The Ukrainian-Canadian community in Toronto continues to actively oppose the screening of the film "Russians at War" at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and organize numerous public protests. One of the peaceful street demonstrations took place on September 10 and is scheduled to take place on September 13 near the Scotiabank Theatre on Richmond.
This was said Oleg Nikolenko, Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto.
Last week, the Venice Film Festival screened the propaganda film Russians at War, which justifies the crimes of the Russians and the presence of their army in Ukraine. The Ukrainian film community reacted promptly to the screening, drew public attention to the events and initiated a petition calling for a ban on future screenings of the Russian film abroad, which has already gained the required 10 thousand votes.
The Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto and the Ukrainian Canadian National Congress joined the process. On September 10, the Ukrainian community organized a rally in Toronto against the film and to the resignation of the TIFF Board of Directors.
"Today we have gathered in Toronto to demand that the Toronto International Film Festival not screen the Russian propaganda film Russians at War. The festival should not provide a platform for laundering Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Their place is in the dock of the International Criminal Court, not on the screens of cinemas," said Nikolenko.
The consul emphasized that "it is irresponsible and unacceptable to ignore the attempts of Russian propaganda to diminish and distort the realities of Russian aggression against Ukraine."
Allegedly, the film "is an official co-production of Canada and France and funded by several Canadian agencies at various levels" and the festival organizers did not consider the film to be Russian propaganda, and called its presence in the program freedom of speech. The documentary was created by Russian-Canadian filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova, who spent more than six months with a Russian battalion in eastern Ukraine.
Despite the protests, TIFF refused to cancel the screening of the Russian film. At the same time, Nikolenko has expressed розчарування щодо позиції адміністрації кінофестивалю.
"It is important not to confuse Russian propaganda with freedom of speech.The Ukrainian military understands democratic values like no other, as we defend them with our own lives. However, we oppose any manipulations that justify the selection of this film," Nikolenko wrote on social media.
Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada Yulia Kovaliv expressed regret that "in its argumentation, the festival did not have the courage to directly admit its deep mistake."
With the rest, the Ukrainian community received the first result - the Canadian organization that financed the creation of the Russian film will no longer support and broadcast the film. In addition, TIFF decided to suspend the screenings for a while.
Foto: Ukrainians in Toronto Online Community
Author: Inna Mikhno