Ukraine’s consul-general in Toronto, Oleh Nikolenko, has called for the removal of a controversial documentary, “Russians at War,” from the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film, directed by Anastasia Trofimova, follows Russian soldiers involved in the invasion of Ukraine and has sparked outrage since its screening at the Venice Film Festival.
Nikolenko criticized the Canadian government for funding the documentary and accused Trofimova of violating Ukrainian legislation by filming on occupied Ukrainian territory. Despite defending her work as an anti-war film made at great risk, Trofimova’s past connections to Russian state news agency RT have raised concerns.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) revealed that the film received funding from the Canadian Media Fund, leading to further backlash. As the film is set to premiere at TIFF on Sept. 10, tensions are rising as Ukrainian officials and activists continue to push for its removal.
The controversy surrounding “Russians at War” has brought to light the complexities of international politics and the power of filmmaking to influence public perception.
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