Canadians are reacting to the Toronto International Film Festival’s (TIFF) decision to pause screenings of the controversial documentary Russians at War, citing significant threats as the reason.
The film follows Russian Canadian filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova’s first-person experience with Russian soldiers on the frontlines in the war with Ukraine. The film was scheduled to have its North American premiere at TIFF on Friday, followed by screenings scheduled on Saturday and Sunday.
“This is an unprecedented move for TIFF,” the festival said in a statement on Thursday.
“As a cultural institution, we support civil discourse about and through films, including differences of opinion, and we fully support peaceful assembly. However, we have received reports indicating potential activity in the coming days that pose significant risk; given the severity of these concerns, we cannot proceed as planned,” it continued.
Toronto Police Service said the decision to suspend the screenings were made solely by TIFF organizers, and was not based on any recommendation.
Ukrainian officials and community groups have denounced the film calling it “Russian propaganda.” In response, TIFF says the documentary is an official Canada-France co-production with funding from both federal and provincial agencies.
“Our understanding is that it was made without the knowledge or participation of any Russian government agencies. In our view, in no way should this film be considered Russian propaganda,” the festival said in a statement.
“While we understand the concerns expressed by many, we believe, like the Venice Film Festival and other international festivals who have programmed the film, that this Canadian documentary merits a place in our selection,” it continued.
Ukraine’s Consul-General in Toronto, Oleh Nikolenko, said in a social media post on X that pausing the film’s screenings at TIFF “is the only right decision.”
“This project has already done significant damage to the festival’s reputation and given Russia a chance to further undermine democracy,” he said.
Meanwhile, some social media are calling out TIFF for citing security threats as its reasoning behind pausing the screenings.
“This move is disingenuous: by implying Ukrainians or others opposed to this film are engaged in anything other than peaceful protest, @TIFF_NET is blaming victims & adding insult to injury.
They & their board need to disavow this patent Russian propaganda & apologize,” one X user said.
“Hey @TIFF_NET, there was no threat. Your cowardice and victim blaming to dodge accountability is true to form for TIFF and its board at this point,” another user said.
“Stop lying. There was no security risk. You just didn’t want PEACEFUL protests against RU propaganda you’re screening,” another user commented.
RESPONSE FROM PRODUCERS
On Thursday, producers of the documentary also put out a statement calling TIFF’s decision “heartbreaking” for them as filmmakers and Canadian citizens, and called the move “shockingly unCanadian.”
“This is not a win for Canadians, including Ukrainian Canadians. We condemn Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Ukraine Ambassador to Canada Yuliya Kovaliv, Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto Oleh Nikolenko, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Senators Donna Dasko and Stanley Kutcher, MP Yvan Baker, MPP Christine Hogarth and other political and community ‘leaders,’ the statement reads.
The producers are also calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to investigate the situation “to our democratic values and a free media.”
