Ukrainian Officials Urge TIFF to Reconsider Screening Russia-Sympathetic Documentary

Ukrainian Consul-General in Toronto, Oleh Nikolenko, has called for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to withdraw a documentary titled “Russians at War” from its lineup. The film, directed by Russian-Canadian filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova, focuses on Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine and has provoked significant backlash since its recent screening at the Venice Film Festival.

Nikolenko’s appeal follows criticism of the film’s portrayal of Russian soldiers, who are shown in a sympathetic light despite ongoing reports of war crimes committed by Russian forces. In a letter to TIFF, Nikolenko condemned the festival for allegedly enabling a project that, according to him, “whitewashes the responsibility of Russian soldiers involved in war crimes.” He also took issue with the Canadian government’s financial support of the documentary, citing a grant from the Canadian Media Fund amounting to 340,000 Canadian dollars.

The film’s North American premiere is scheduled for September 10 at TIFF. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) has echoed Nikolenko’s concerns, arguing that the documentary undermines Ukrainian sovereignty and disregards the severity of the ongoing war.

In response, Trofimova argued that the documentary seeks to provide a more nuanced view of the soldiers rather than serving as a propaganda tool. “I want to make it clear that this film is an attempt to see beyond the conflict and understand the human side of the story,” she said.

The film’s premiere in Venice was marked by controversy, with some critics, including Ukrainian filmmaker Olha Zhurba, questioning the timing and intent of the film. Zhurba argued that showcasing the Russian soldiers' perspective without addressing the broader context of the war risks misleading audiences about the nature of the war.

Trofimova, who has previously worked with Russia’s RT news agency, emphasized that her film aims to foster understanding amidst the divisive atmosphere surrounding the war. During a press conference at the Venice Film Festival, Trofimova admitted to embedding with Russian troops fighting in Ukraine for seven months to film a documentary. Notably, her presence in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories was not cleared with Ukrainian authorities. Ukraine considers any unauthorized visits to its temporarily occupied territories, even by members of the press, a violation of its territorial integrity.