People protest outside of Scotiabank Theatre about the documentary "Russians at War" playing at the Toronto International Film Festival, in Toronto, on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paige Taylor White
TORONTO – The Toronto International Film Festival says it has been forced to pause upcoming screenings of the documentary “Russians at War” due to “significant threats” to festival operations and public safety.
The film about Russian soldiers’ disillusionment at the front lines of the war in Ukraine had scheduled screenings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
TIFF says the move to pause the screenings is “unprecedented” for the festival, but necessary to ensure the safety of attendees, guests and staff.
The film has drawn the ire of Ukrainian officials and community organizations who say it amounts to propaganda and whitewashes the Russian military’s war crimes.
TIFF has said that the documentary is “in no way” Russian propaganda and it stood by its decision to include it in this year’s programming.
TIFF says it’s still committed to screening the documentary but has to prioritize immediate safety concerns.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
