‘Propaganda’: Russian war film to be screened in Toronto International Film Festival despite ‘threats’

One of the world’s most influential film festivals is torn over the film that has been labelled both “Russian propaganda” or “anti-war” – depending on who you ask.

One of the world’s most influential film festivals has been disrupted by the inclusion of what has been labelled both “Russian propaganda” or an “anti-war film” – depending on who you ask.

The controversial documentary “Russians at War” will be shown at the Toronto International Film Festival this week after the city’s film festival organisers halted screenings due to “significant threats” over their decision to feature the film.

Director Anastasia Trofimova. ‘Russians at War’ documentary will be screened at Toronto International Film Festival this week. Picture: AFP

Focusing on Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine from the perspective of Russian soldiers, the film will have two screenings at the TIFF Lightbox cultural centre in Toronto, the festival said.

The documentary has sparked outrage since it was first shown in Venice earlier this month, with some calling it a pro-Kremlin film that seeks to whitewash and justify Moscow’s assault on its neighbour.

Film sparked controversy, labelled both ‘Russian propaganda’ and ‘anti-war’.

The Toronto International Film Festival, which ended on Sunday, announced last week it was pulling the film due to threats – calling the decision an “unprecedented move.”

Yulia Kovaliv, Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada, condemned the festival on Monday for reinstating the screenings, saying its “persistence to serve as a platform to share Russian propaganda is beyond imaginable.”

People protest outside of Scotiabank Theatre about the documentary "Russians at War" playing at the Toronto International Film Festival, in Toronto, on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2024. Picture: The Canadian Press/Alamy Live News

Canadian regional public broadcaster TVO, which had helped fund the documentary through the Canadian Media Fund, has pulled its support for the film and said it would not be airing it as planned in the coming months.

Russian-Canadian filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova has rejected the criticisms, telling AFP it was “an anti-war film” that showed “ordinary guys” who were fighting for Russia and treated as cannon fodder.

The soldiers depicted appear to have little idea of why they have been sent to the front and are shown struggling to make Soviet-era weapons serviceable.