TIFF Halts Screenings of ‘Russians at War’ After Threats to Safety

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TIFF Halts Screenings of ‘Russians at War’ After Threats to Safety

As a seasoned gamer who has navigated through countless virtual battlefields and conflicts, I have always valued the power of storytelling to humanize war and bring attention to its complexities. However, the recent decision by TIFF to halt screenings of “Russians at War” is a stark reminder that not all battles are confined to the digital realm.

Tiff (Toronto International Film Festival) has decided to stop showing the contentious film “Russians at War” due to becoming informed about substantial risks to the festival’s functioning and the security of the public.

Film director Anastasia Trofimova, who hails from Russia but resides in Canada, is responsible for creating a documentary that offers a personal perspective on Russian soldiers deployed in Ukraine.

The film stirred up debate at its initial screening during the Venice Film Festival. This was where Trofimova faced criticism following her defense of the movie she produced alongside a Russian military battalion in Eastern Ukraine, during a press conference on Lido Island.

On September 10th, I joined around 400 fellow Torontonian Ukrainians in a protest outside TIFF Lightbox. Our signs read strong messages like “Russians at War Equalize Killers and Rapists” and “TIFF, Russian Propaganda Leads to Murder.” We rallied against the war and the propaganda that supports it.

See the statement from TIFF below.

Starting right away, I regretfully announce that screenings for “Russians at War” scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday have been temporarily halted at TIFF. We’ve been informed about substantial risks to our festival’s operations and the public’s safety. Although we remain committed to the standpoint expressed in yesterday’s statement, this action is taken to prioritize the wellbeing of all attendees, staff, and volunteers.

This is an unprecedented move for TIFF. 

In our role as a cultural institution, we encourage open discussions and diverse viewpoints about movies, even when opinions differ. We also endorse peaceful gatherings. However, recent intelligence suggests potential actions in the near future that could be quite dangerous. Considering the gravity of these worries, we must unfortunately alter our original plans.

Making this choice has been exceptionally challenging for us. When we pick movies, we always follow TIFF’s mission, values, and programming guidelines. We feel strongly that this film deserves a spot in our festival, and we are dedicated to showing it as soon as it becomes safe to do so, aligning with our principles.

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2024-09-13 00:24