TIFF announces it will stop showing screenings of controversial documentary russians at war after “recognizing a significant threat to festival operations and public safety.”
Russian-Canadian filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova is behind the documentary, which offers a first-person look at Russian soldiers in Ukraine.
The project’s producers said in a statement that the halt to screenings was “heartbreaking for us as filmmakers and Canadian citizens.” They continued: “As producers, with this production, our first priority was to ensure the safety of our courageous director Anastasia Trofimova, despite her unwavering commitment to making the documentary These risks. We assume these risks will originate from Russia, not Canada.
Controversy surrounding the film first emerged at the Venice Film Festival, where it had its world premiere. After the film’s press conference in Lido, Trofimova sparked a backlash by defending the film, which she shot at a Russian army camp in eastern Ukraine.
On September 10, about 400 Ukrainian Torontonians gathered outside the TIFF Lightbox, the headquarters of the major film festival. They held signs that read “russians at war Defending and Victimizing Murderers and Rapists” and “Hello, TIFF? ! Russian propaganda kills. Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who has Ukrainian background, also expressed concerns about the TIFF screening at a news conference in Ottawa. russians at war.
In today’s statement, the Toronto International Film Festival supports the right to peaceful assembly, but added, “We have received reports that there may be activity that poses a significant risk in the coming days; given the seriousness of these issues, we are unable to press Plans are underway. It’s unclear what these threats mean.
Film festival goers with tickets to Friday’s screening russians at war Was informed via email that the screening was canceled and refunds would be issued. The email did not mention potential threats to public safety.
See TIFF’s full statement below.
TIFF forced to pause upcoming film releases, effective immediately russians at war Friday, Saturday and Sunday as we have become aware of significant threats to festival operations and public safety. While we stand by the statement we made yesterday, this decision has been made to ensure the safety of all festival guests, staff and volunteers.
This is an unprecedented move for TIFF.
As a cultural institution, we support civil discussion about and through film, including differences of opinion, and we fully support peaceful gatherings. However, we have received reports that potential activity over the next few days poses significant risks; given the severity of these issues, we are unable to proceed as planned.
This is an extremely difficult decision. When we select films, we follow TIFF’s mission, our values and our programming principles. We believe this film has earned a spot in our festival lineup and we are committed to showing it when it is safe to do so.
See full statement from producers russians at war the following.
TIFF decides to suspend screenings russians at war We as filmmakers and Canadian citizens are heartbroken due to the extreme safety concerns. As producers, our first priority on this production was the safety of our intrepid director Anastasia Trofimova, even as she firmly accepted these risks of making a documentary. We assume these risks originate from Russia, not Canada.
This is not a victory for Canadians, including Ukrainian-Canadians. We condemn Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada Yulia Kovalev, Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto Ole Nikolenko, Ukrainian-Canadian Congress, Senators Donna Dasko and Stanley Kutcher, Councilor Ivan Baker (Etobicoke Centre), Councilor Christine Hogarth (Etobicoke-Lakeshore) and other political and community “leaders.” Their irresponsible, dishonest and inflammatory public statements inspired violent hatred, leading to TIFF’s painful decision to suspend its screenings russians at war.
This temporary suppression is very un-Canadian. We call on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to fully investigate this affront, from within a sovereign government to our democratic values and a free media.
We are deeply committed to providing Canadians with opportunities to see and reflect Russians are in war. We believe reason and truth will prevail.
– Producer russians at war
