Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is denouncing a documentary about Russian soldiers screening at the Toronto International Film festival (TIFF) this year.
Speaking with reporters Tuesday, Freeland — who is of Ukrainian heritage — noted that both diplomats and the Canadian-Ukrainian community have expressed “grave concerns” about the film Russians at War.
“I share those concerns,” Freeland said.
“It’s not right for Canadian public money to be supporting the screening and production of a film like this.”
The film’s synopsis on TIFF’s website says it depicts soldiers’ disillusionment with the war as they learn the story they were sold in Russia is false. CBC Toronto has reached out to the festival for comment.
The documentary, from Russian-Canadian director Anastasia Trofimova, premiered at the Venice Film Festival last week and is set to make its North American debut at TIFF on Friday.
Trofimova said in a written statement that the film is not propaganda, and was filmed without the permission of the Russian government, putting her at risk of criminal prosecution in Russia.
“I want to be clear that this Canada-France co-production is an antiwar film made at great risk to all involved, myself especially,” she said.
“I unequivocally believe that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is unjustified, illegal and acknowledge the validity of the International Criminal Court investigation of war crimes in Ukraine.”
Freeland, however, said this is a war without “moral equivalency.
“This is a war of Russian aggression, this is a war where Russia is breaking international law and committing war crimes,” she said.
“There is very clearly good and evil in this war. Ukranians are fighting for their sovereignty and for democracy around the world.
In a written statement, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress asked why TIFF would screen a movie “that seeks to explain away Russia’s genocidal war of aggression against Ukraine.”
They said they would protest the film’s inclusion in the festival on Tuesday afternoon, when it is set to be shown to members of the press and film industry.
