Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the use of public funds to support the screening of a documentary about Russian soldiers at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is “not right.”
Mme Freeland said she shares concerns expressed by Ukrainian diplomats and some Ukrainian-Canadians about the film “Russians at War,” which depicts the disillusionment of some Russian soldiers with their country’s military actions.
The deputy prime minister said Russia is breaking international law with its invasion of Ukraine and that Canada as a country must make it clear that there is “no moral equivalence” in this war.
Ukraine’s consul general in Toronto has called on TIFF to remove the documentary from its programming, saying the film whitewashes responsibility for Russian soldiers committing war crimes in Ukraine.
Festival spokespeople did not comment on the consul general’s letter to TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey. The film is scheduled to screen Friday.
The film’s Russian-Canadian director, Anastasia Trofimova, said the documentary was not propaganda and was made without permission from the Russian government, putting her at risk.
The Toronto International Film Festival runs until Sunday.
To see in video