Liberal MPs, including Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, are criticizing the use of public funds for a controversial documentary that depicts Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine and has been labeled as “Russian propaganda.”
The film, called “Russians at War,” is premiering in North America at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was directed by a Russian Canadian filmmaker and received funding from Canadian public broadcasters, partially through government grants, and an Oscar-nominated Canadian producer.
A protest organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress took place outside the screening of the film, as Ukrainian diplomats, the country’s consul general in Toronto, and the foreign ministry have all criticized it.
Commenting on the film, Freeland, a prominent critic of Russia’s invasion, expressed concerns and stated that Canadian public money should not be supporting the production and screening of such a film.
The film’s director, Anastasia Trofimova, spent seven months with a Russian army battalion in eastern Ukrainian territory occupied by Moscow’s forces to create the film. She claims the film was made without the Russian government’s knowledge and aims to show the soldiers losing faith in the fight, humanizing them.
In response, Freeland emphasized that there is no moral equivalency in this war, highlighting Russia’s aggression and violations of international law. She stressed that Ukrainians are fighting for their sovereignty and democracy, and there can be no moral equivalence in understanding the conflict.
Other MPs have joined in condemning the film, urging the cancellation of screenings and a withdrawal of funding. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress welcomed Freeland’s comments and called for a government investigation into the film’s funding decisions.
The Canada Media Fund, which allocates funds for Canadian content creation, is aware of the concerns surrounding the film but clarified that it was TVO’s decision to support the project with CMF funds.
TVO, the Ontario public broadcaster behind the film’s funding, defended its support, stating that the documentary aligns with independent war correspondence traditions.
It is important to note that the views presented in the film have sparked controversy and raised questions about the use of public funds for projects with potential political implications.
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