TIFF Halts Screenings of Trofimova’s Documentary 'Russians at War' Citing Safety Concerns

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has decided to pause upcoming screenings of the controversial documentary 'Russians at War'.

In a statement released on September 12, TIFF explained that it had been “made aware of significant threats to festival operations and public safety,” prompting the “decision (to halt screenings) in order to ensure the safety of all festival guests, staff, and volunteers.”

The decision to pause the screenings came just a day after the initial announcement and was described by TIFF as an “unprecedented move” and an “incredibly difficult decision.”

“As a cultural institution, we support civil discourse about and through films, including differences of opinion, and we fully support peaceful assembly. However, we have received reports indicating potential activity in the coming days that pose significant risk; given the severity of these concerns, we cannot proceed as planned,” TIFF stated.

The festival did not provide specifics about the security threats involved.

The Toronto Police Service told CBC News that the decision to halt the screening was made independently by event organizers and was not based on any recommendation from the police.

Despite the pause, TIFF defended the film, stating, “We believe this film has earned a place in our festival’s lineup, and we are committed to screening it when it is safe to do so.”

The day before the pause, Oleh Nikolenko, Ukraine’s Consul General in Toronto, expressed his disapproval of TIFF’s decision, calling the move to screen the film “appalling.”

Nikolenko also questioned the narrative maintained by the film’s director, Anastasia Trofimova, regarding the Russian government’s involvement.

“Given how Russia treats journalists, it is naive to believe that Anastasia Trofimova spent over six months embedded with a Russian military unit without Russian military or government oversight,” he said in a statement. “We believe the production of this film was permitted because it aligns with Russia’s narratives that downplay the atrocities of its invasion.”

Yuliya Kovaliv, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, responded to TIFF’s actions, saying, “It’s a pity that the festival did not have the courage to directly admit its deep mistake in its argumentation.”

Previously, the publicly funded TV network TVO (formerly TVOntario) released a statement on September 10 announcing no longer airing the 'Russians at War' documentary.