Toronto Film Festival cancels screening of film about “good Russian invaders”

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced its decision not to screen the film “Russians at war” by a Russian director, citing security concerns. 

The TIFF organizing committee said it was “forced to pause” the planned screenings of Russians at War on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday “as it has become aware of significant threats to the festival and public safety” and that this is an unprecedented and “very difficult” step. 

The statement states, “We continue to share the views expressed in our statement yesterday, but we have made this decision for the safety of all festival guests, staff, and volunteers.”

The statement concluded with the words, “The film deserves a place in the festival program,” and the organizers want to hold the premiere “when it is safe to do so.”

“It is a pity that the festival did not have the courage to directly admit its deep mistake in its argumentation,” said Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada Yulia Kovaliv. 

Recall that the Venice International Film Festival already screened the film “Russians at War” on September 5. The director said she spent seven months with a Russian battalion fighting in Ukraine, and it was a shock to see that they were “absolutely ordinary guys with families and a sense of humor.”

The Ukrainian-Canadian community and the Consulate General of Ukraine in Toronto protested against the intention to screen “Russians at War” at a Canadian festival.

Many considered this film a support to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and a Russian war propaganda. 

Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is of Ukrainian descent, also expressed concern. 

After the publicity, the Canadian media organization TVO (TV Ontario), which provided funds for the film’s production, decided not to screen it again.

However, the TIFF organizing committee stated that it would not cancel the presentation and saw no reason to consider the film to be Russian war propaganda.