TIFF continued to screen the film Russians at War, despite outrage from the Ukrainian community and accusations of spreading Russian propaganda.
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has decided to return the controversial documentary to its program. Russians at war directed by Anastasia Trofimova, despite the previously announced decision to cancel screenings due to security risks.
The film is scheduled to release on Tuesday, September 17, despite the festival ending on September 15.
The film caused serious outrage among the Ukrainian diaspora and Ukrainian officials. Protests demanding the removal of the film from the program began on September 10, when the film was shown to the press. In particular, the Consul General of Ukraine in Canada, Oleg Nikolenko, called the inclusion of the film in the program “irresponsible”.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications placed Trofimova on the list of people who threaten national security because of her ties to Russian propaganda, particularly her work at Russia Today. The ministry also condemned the film for spreading Russian propaganda, accusing it of neutralizing Russia’s responsibility for the war against Ukraine and promoting a narrative of “brotherly people” that the Ukrainian side said distorts reality and threatens the freedom struggle efforts.
Despite these outcries and the cancellation of several screenings over the weekend, TIFF decided to continue screening the film, leading to further criticism from the Ukrainian and international community.
It was previously reported that the Emmy television award ceremony, which celebrates outstanding achievements in the television industry, took place in the United States.
Source: korrespondent
