“Rape, Violence, Abuse”: The Threats That Led the Toronto Film Festival to Pull ‘Russians at War’

As a seasoned film enthusiast who has witnessed the ebb and flow of cinematic trends, I find myself deeply moved by the events unfolding at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The decision to pull “Russians at War” from the line-up due to threats against staff was a sobering reminder of the power that art holds in today’s polarized world.

Last week, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) chose to remove the contentious film “Russians at War” from its schedule due to a significant number of threats directed towards its staff members. These threats encompassed both violent and sexually inappropriate acts.

Last Thursday, TIFF announced that they needed to postpone three upcoming public showings of Russian-Canadian director Anastasia Trofimova’s documentary due to recognized threats to the festival’s operations and audience safety. The film was scheduled for its North American debut on the last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the event.

The festival explained that they’ve taken this action for the sake of securing the well-being and safety of everyone involved – attendees, staff members, and volunteers alike.

The declaration sparked a degree of doubt among Canadian documentarians and media personnel, as various outlets pondered if TIFF might have been intimidated by public demonstrations and political influence.

On Tuesday afternoon, as promised, the festival rolled out the red carpet for the screening of the movie at their very own TIFF Lightbox venue. Stepping onto the stage before a crowd buzzing with anticipation at 2 p.m. E.T., TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey addressed us, acknowledging the vocal backlash his team had faced regarding this particular film screening. As a gamer eagerly waiting to see the movie, I could feel the tension in the air, but also the excitement of finally getting to watch it.

“Most of that was civil and peaceful,” Bailey said. “Some of it was terrifying.”

Through numerous emails and phone conversations, the team at TIFF encountered numerous cases of abusive language. Additionally, we faced threats that went beyond simple intimidation, including threats of a violent and even sexually violent nature. This behavior left us shocked, and it’s not surprising that our staff members felt frightened as a result.

Additionally, we became aware of proposals to interfere or halt the film showings. Since the screenings from last week were set for a 14-screen multiplex on some of the festival’s peak days, we decided it would be wiser not to implement those plans for safety reasons.

Bailey didn’t delve deeper into it, but it is believed that several ex-TIFF employees were contacted regarding layouts of the theater and queries about specific entry and exit points for talent.

At Toronto’s Scotiabank Richmond multiplex, where the documentary was initially planned to screen, there are no side entrances for talent to access for Q&A sessions. Instead, they have to use the same entrance as regular moviegoers. On the other hand, the festival’s own Lightbox multiplex usually features dedicated stage doors, which are commonly used to quickly escort high-profile stars during the event.

The remarks made by Bailey will significantly increase the stress on Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who has been under scrutiny due to her statement about the documentary being propaganda. In other words, she said it was inappropriate for Canadian public funds to contribute towards the showing and creation of a film like this. However, it’s important to note that she made this comment before watching the film on September 10th.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve joined hundreds of fellow Ukrainian Canadians in Toronto, taking to the streets in protest against the initial screening of a controversial film at TIFF. Armed with our homemade placards and voices united in chants of “shame on TIFF,” we made our stance clear.

Nevertheless, numerous Canadian journalists viewed the movie during the festival, and their responses uniformly disagreed with the Deputy Prime Minister’s portrayal.

As a gamer, I’ve had the privilege of watching a thought-provoking film that’s been making waves across Canada. The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, and National Post, representing a spectrum from left to right, have all penned articles praising this movie as a potent anti-war argument. It presents Russia’s ground forces in a complex light, showing them as confused and betrayed, questioning the very reason for their fighting.

The Globe and Mail praised ‘Russians at War’ as a fearless and outstanding documentary, stating that it presents the gruesome reality of war without sugarcoating. The review emphasized that this documentary does not glorify Russia, its military, or its war efforts in any way, nor does it demonize Ukraine or its people.

In response to Minister Freeland’s comments, Bailey conveyed to the audience: “It’s my conviction that yielding to pressure from certain members of the public or even the government when it comes to showcasing cultural artifacts can be a destructive element in our society. We made our film selection based on TIFF’s mission and values, and I firmly believe that these principles – along with the principle of independent media in Canada – are worth upholding.

Bailey emphasized that Trofimova’s film (a France-Canada collaboration aiming for global release) underwent a thorough evaluation and was chosen due to its artistic quality and significance in addressing the distressing conflict sparked by Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine.

He mentioned that TIFF showcased several documentaries by Ukrainian filmmakers during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 festivals, providing direct perspectives on those events.

Bailey expressed sincere empathy towards the distress experienced by Ukrainian Canadians due to the violence and devastation inflicted by Russia’s aggression. However, he underscored that verbal assaults and threats of violence, provoked by a film screening, are unacceptable and step over a dangerous boundary.

We’re advocating for Russian Journalists, to resist mistreatment, confront dangers, and uphold the significance of free press and editorial autonomy.

2024-09-18 08:25

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