To screen or not to screen? This is the question

Why are film festivals so important? What do they bring to the public? 

They might be challenging and inspiring and can teach some new values.  

TIFF is the Toronto International Film Festival that shows movies from around the world and creates a special community of movie lovers. Movies that are getting screen time are usually deeply scrutinized. One of the movies that brought public despair was a movie created by Russian-Canadian filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova called Russians at War.  

This movie has been sponsored by two countries, France and Canada. Russians at War is screened with the money of taxpayers. It tells the story of the lives of Russian soldiers at the war. It shows the softest part of their being and invading a peaceful country. Being a documentary, it doesn’t expose all the cruelty that these people are inflicting on the citizens of Ukraine. 

This movie caused a protest, especially by the local Ukrainian community and people who support them. This film shows an erroneous truth featuring the actions of the soldiers at the war. 

After the protests of the Ukrainian community in Toronto, the film was suspended for screening. At least for one week. This gave a breath of hope for those who are against this brutal invasion to a peaceful country.  

The front of the Capitol Theatre which hosts WIFF each year. Photo by Xenia Semenova.

 WIFF is the Windsor International Film Festival that is popular among local filmmakers but is also attracting talents from around the globe. Every year, they bring to the public new and formidable films. This year is not an exception, but there is the controversy with one of the participating movies.  

Ukraine has been a victim of circumstances, first became a part of the Soviet Union but was never being a part of their neighboring country. These two countries have different languages, cultures, traditions and even food.  

Andriana Onufryk-Pitre is a representative of WESUN (Windsor Essex Supporting Ukrainian Newcomers). She wants to explain why there is a grand concern about screening this movie.  

“The very first thing that should be pointed out is the movie title itself,” said Onufryk- Pitre.  “Russia is not at war; they invaded a sovereign and democratic country that was of no threat to them. Going forward, I will not refer to it as war, rather an invasion. An invasion that did not happen in 2022, rather 2014. It escalated in 2022.” 

Onufryk-Pitre says this documentary tries to lend itself as a credible source of information regarding the invasion. The filmmaker takes on a very biased view as she is from Russia, grew up in the Russian school system and was a director as Russia Today’s documentary department (banned in Canada because of its consistent publications of propaganda).  

“We have all seen and heard what happens to dissidents of Putin,” said Onufryk-Pitre. 

 The explains the filmmaker is clearly trying to persuade the world to believe that Russian soldiers are victims.  

“Not once in this film did she speak to any Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline who are defending their sovereign territory from the Russian invasion,” said Onufryk-Pitre. “She lives in Canada; not once did she think of how this would affect the 1.4 million Canadians living in Canada. She did not think of the under 200,000 Ukrainians currently living in Canada. How? How can such a biased and propaganda-filled “documentary’ be acceptable for viewing?!” 

 During the last few years Onufryk-Pitre has been one of the biggest activists and volunteers who is helping Ukrainians to acclimate in Windsor. She is a part of the organization that tries to help people who lost their homes and came here to begin their lives from zero. Onufryk-Pitre is compassionate and understanding towards victims of this horrible invasion. 

“My heart breaks for those who fled the invasion as this must bring up such raw emotions that Ukrainians are processing,” said Onufryk-Pitre.“They lived through this by fleeing their homes and to see such a one-sided documentary being screened in Canada is appalling.” 

She finds it is heartless from the side of a filmmaker to produce this kind of movie. She is questioning how Trofimova was able to film such scenes without permission from the Kremlin, from top generals, from Putin himself. Onufryk-Pitre wants to highlight those Canadian taxpayers paid for this film to push Russian propaganda.  

“This film is clear propaganda which is what dictators thrive on promoting,” said Onufryk-Pitre. “TIFF released a comical statement saying that ‘Our understanding is that it was made without the knowledge or participation of any Russian government agencies.’”  

The local Ukrainian community is espousing a petition “Demand WIFF Cancel Screening of Pro-Russian Propaganda Film.” 

This petition is against: 

– the filmmaker whose previous movies used to be broadcast by Russia Today, a Russian propaganda outlet sanctioned by the Government of Canada; 

– The filmmaker who entered sovereign Ukrainian territory together with invading Russian armies, thus violating Ukrainian law, Ukrainian sovereignty; 

– The film received $340,000 from the Canadian Media Fund through the department of Canadian Heritage; 

– WIFF screening a movie that seeks to explain away Russia’s genocidal war of aggression against Ukraine; 

– WIFF showcasing a film which blames “propaganda” or “the fog of war” for the Russian armies who invaded Ukraine and who rape, torture, murder and dehumanize Ukrainians. 

Personally, being a part of Ukrainian community of Windsor, volunteering and helping people who came from the war, I was surprised that WIFF did not react with compassion, to my letter is expressing how it is horrible to screen this movie for the public. Especially when this movie is being recognized as pro-Russian and a Russian propaganda film.   

The following is correspondence between myself, Kseniia Semenova and a WIFF representative. 

 

Good afternoon 
What do we Ukrainian community need to do to stop showing of this movie? 
Ukrainian community and victims of this war are present in Windsor, and it is cruel and disrespectful to hurt people with these ugly lies that this movie wants to show about what did these soldiers to Ukrainians, to the kids and women, to innocent people in their own beds. Their crimes are Internationally recognized as a terrorism and there is no excuse to show these people in a good light of a festival. Please take into consideration to stop showing this movie and participating in the festival. Thank you! 

 

Dear Kseniia,  

Thank you for your email about “Russians at War”.  

We screen quality, challenging films that our discerning audience can choose to engage with, criticize, and ultimately reflect upon what the filmmakers are saying. That autonomous choice is entirely in the hands of our audience, all the more informed once they see the film itself.  

We hope that all films at WIFF generate meaningful, critical and intelligent discussion in an environment that is safe, respectful and civil.  

WIFF’s founder has guided us with a single quote since our inception: “The End of the Film is the Beginning of the Conversation” . 

Windsor International Film Festival 

 

WIFF coordinators reacted very cruelly and apathetic. 

Tetiana Krutko stands in front of the Capitol Theatre in September 2024. Photo by Xenia Semenova.

Tetiana Krutko is one of the victims of the Russian invasion. She agreed to give an interview, because she wants to share all this experience to bring more understanding to the local community, what it means to leave their safe home. She and her family left their hometown in Kharkivska region on February 24 when the bombing and shelling began. Their home is just 25 kilometers (about 15.53 mi) away from the border, it is a very unsafe place to stay with children.  

“I was scared for my kids.” said Krutko.“I knew if they find us there will be no mercy, they will just kill my kids and my family, we needed to leave our home.” 

After a few days after they have left home, a close family friend, and his five-month child was killed in one of the explosions.  

“Our friend died instantly; his son was found after four hours on the roof of the next building.” said Krutko.“I am looking at their picture every day, we miss them so much.” 

A very confident and strong woman, a mother of two kids, Krutko knows that she need continue living. She went to Canada without knowing English or having friends here. In two years, it gave her more realization of what is continuing in their own home. 

“These soldiers don’t have an excuse,” said Onufryk-Pitre. “You always have a choice, they could just captivate people, but not raping women and kids, torturing them, killing man. These soldiers go to fight because of the money, of the goods their families are promised to get, or maybe they have this madness to kill.” 

She told me about her family.  Her husband’s uncle, who was born and raised in Ukraine but moved decades ago to Russia sent his oldest son to fight against Ukraine, even knowing that his own brother, her husband’s father, is also at the war. They sent him because of the money. This young fellow was killed in Ukraine.  

“The most important thing Ukraine is losing it is lives.” said Krutko.“Homes and possessions you can gain again, even the soil can reborn, but not the genofond of our country of our nation. Beautiful and strong young men and women, heroes that were killed, don’t exist anymore. Mothers who left with their kids will not come back anymore. In many small cities schools are closed or just destroyed.” 

Can you imagine the pain of the mother whose kid went voluntarily to protect their own home, was killed? No one was ready for this filthy invasion, for this attack.  

“If you ask is there a line, be stepped above to lose your own humanity,” said Krutko.“…No. You need always stay person who doesn’t want to carry death, to tell untruth, to change facts, just for your good, this is horrible.” 

Krutko has lived in Windsor for two years and she says she loves Canada for giving them a chance to feel like at home. Her family works hard here, trying to integrate into the community, open business, raising their kids in a new safe community. However, she was devastated to hear that Canada who protects them, has allowed Russian propaganda to be screened and recognized as an art, telling the side of the story that is not important and being supported by Canadian International Film Festivals. She hopes her story will reach people’s humanity to understand why now every film has a right to be a part of this kind of cultural festival.  

You can be challenged to support this petition but cannot support a challenging propaganda movie, this is called corruption of a soul. 

If you want to understand more what is happening in Ukraine, there are some documentaries you can watch “Winter on Fire,” directed by Evgeny Afineevsky, that you can watch on Netflix and also “Freedom on Fire,” which can be found on Youtube and AppleTV. “Ukraine on Fire,” directed by Igor Lapatonok  can be watched on Plex.   The Academy Awar -winning movie “20 days in Mariupol” directed by Mstyslav Chernov can be watched on Amazon Prime Video.