TIFF stands by Russians at War doc after TVO pulls support amid outcry [Video]

The Toronto International Film Festival says screenings of a controversial documentary depicting Russian soldiers in Ukraine will go ahead as planned, despite Ontario’s public broadcaster pulling its support amid outcry from the Ukrainian community.

A statement from the festival Wednesday defended the film, Russians at War, a day after a large protest was held outside its debut screening calling for its removal. Ukrainian and Canadian officials and protesters have also raised concerns that the film, which they call “Russian propaganda,” was financed in part through Canadian public funding.

“In our view, in no way should this film be considered Russian propaganda,” a statement from TIFF said.

“While we understand the concerns expressed by many, we believe, like the Venice Film Festival and other international festivals who have programmed the film, that this Canadian documentary merits a place in our selection.”

The film’s Russian-Canadian director, Anastasia Trofimova, spent seven months embedded with …