The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will not pull the documentary about Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine from its program, despite protests from Ukrainian officials, the Ukrainian-Canadian community, and Canada’s deputy prime minister.
Chrystia Freeland said Tuesday that using public funds to support the screening of a documentary about Russian soldiers was “not right.”
TIFF stressed Wednesday that it respects the concerns raised about the film. Russians at Warbut said the film should “in no way” be considered Moscow propaganda.
Festival organizers have learned that the documentary was made without the knowledge or involvement of any Russian government agency, and they believe the film deserves a place in the TIFF program.
On Tuesday, Ontario public broadcaster TVO, which helped fund the documentary, announced it was no longer supporting the film and would not air it in the coming months as previously planned.
The Ukrainian-Canadian Congress said it was disappointed by TIFF’s decision not to cancel the screening Russians at War at the festival.
Ukraine’s consul general in Toronto and other Ukrainian groups in Canada had called on TIFF to pull the film, while dozens of people protested Tuesday outside the theater where it was screening for industry members and journalists.
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