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Zurich Film Festival 2024
Russians At War Screenings Cancelled at ZFF
The film Russians at War has been removed from the schedule at this year’s Zurich Film Festival due to security concerns. The film will remain in the Documentary Film competition, but it will not be publicly screened during the event. In addition, director Anastasia Trofimova will not be attending.
About the Film
Russians at War is a full-length documentary that depicts a behind-the-scenes look at Russian soldiers fighting Ukraine. The film follows a group of soldiers for nearly seven months, going from their homes in Russia to the frontlines in eastern Ukraine. Reuters reviewer Crispian Balmer writes that the film shows a “ramshackle army in a regular state of disarray.”
Balmer’s review notes that the Russians have little protection and provisions, other than an abundance of cigarettes and alcohol. He notes that soldiers admit in the film that they are fighting for the money, not for political stance. Other film reviews tell of a movie that tells the story of people who are, willingly or unwillingly, living through times of war.
Ironically, it is illegal in Russia to call the controversy between Ukraine and Russia a “war.”
The film had its European premiere at Venice, and its official North American premiere was scheduled for TIFF but was cancelled shortly before the screening. The planned screenings at the Zurich Film Festival, as of September 26, have been cancelled.
Screenings at Film Festivals
Russians at War made its European premiere at the 81st Venice Film Festival event on September 5, 2024. The film was shown amongst strong opposition from the public.
The film’s North American premiere was scheduled to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), September 5-15. On September 11, TIFF officials made the “incredibly difficult decision” to remove the film from its lineup. From the statement:
As a cultural institution, we support civil discourse about and through films, including differences of opinion, and we fully support peaceful assembly. However, we have received reports indicating potential activity in the coming days that pose significant risk; given the severity of these concerns, we cannot proceed as planned.
TIFF did still screen the film on September 17 at the TIFF Lightbox theater. From its website, TIFF describes this venue as a cultural center with multiple theaters, galleries, studios, and a reference library, along with eateries and a rooftop terrace. The theaters show “specially curated programming.”
The Lunenberg Film Festival in Nova Scotia screened Russians at War on September 20. They disagreed with critics who called the movie propaganda and decided to show the movie to provide a “window to observe the devastating impact” of powerful governments and individuals.
The Windsor Film Festival in Ontario plans to screen the film on October 25 and 26.
ZFF Plans Screenings
Zurich film selectors curated a program with many films with current topics, namely war. Going as far back as medieval times (Hagen-Im Tal der Nibelungen) to the current conflict in Ukraine (Under the Volcano, Russians at War) and not missing World War 2 (Lee, The End), the lineup covers the spectrum of human suffering, justice, and strife.
Film festivals this year have been under scrutiny for choosing to show the controversial Russians at War. Despite this, Zurich planners arranged for four public showings of the film, once a day from October 7 to 12. As of September 25, most screenings (if not all) were sold out. Director Anastasia Trofimova was expected to attend the screenings on October 7 and 8.
The Controversial Story
Based on information posted to Reddit, film director Anastasia Trofimova previously made films for over seven years for Russia Today, the Russian state-funded propaganda machine. Her full-length documentary Russians at War has been called an attempt of whitewashing Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.
Being billed as a documentary, alongside films made by independent filmmakers, Russians at War is said to be a Kremlin-approved megaphone telling the Russian army’s lies. Trofimova claims that she filmed without prejudgement and that her film was not sponsored by Russia.
Trofimova says that her aim was to ‘throw a rope’ from Russia to the West, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. During a Q&A at the Toronto Film Festival, director Anastasia Trofimova says that made the film to better understand the people fighting in the war, not to focus on political differences. She said she “doesn’t know” the reasons for the war. For someone who has been producing videos for Russia’s state media, RT, for awhile, this feigned ignorance isn’t believable.
She was called out by Ivanka Tymchuk, a board member with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, who also noted that the director has analytical thinking skills and could “put together the puzzle pieces” of the conflict.
Another board member from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Ann Semotiuk, also told The Hollywood Reporter that the director ignored facts in her film, such as that Russia is committing war crimes and is acting as an aggressor. Russians at War producer Cornelia Principe countered this accusation by saying that the film doesn’t whitewash Russia’s actions but focuses on the people. She asks whether “empathizing with a soldier who happens to be Russians” is whitewashing.
Canadians Upset over Canadian Funding
Funding for the film is also being questioned by protestors. Canadian organizations that are funded by taxpayers have been found to have contributed $340,000 toward the film.
A redditor posted an image of the film’s title credit, which lists organizations that the picture was created in association with. The image states the film was produced in association with TVO and Knowledge Network, with participation of Canada Media Fun, and with the support of Centre National du Cinema et de L’Image Animee, Hot Docs Red Rogers Fund, and Rogers Documentary Fund.
Organizations listed on the credit screen might have provided funding through grants, but the organizations do not have control over the film itself. It is important to note that this financial support does not equate to an endorsement from that organization.
TVO, an organization focused on education and public affairs, released a statement in support of screening and viewing the film. “Russians at War is at its core an anti-war film,” the statement reads, telling that the film exposes the “increasing disillusionment” of Russian fighters. The statement also explains that the film tells a contrasting story to what is being told by Russia media to Russians.
Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland voiced her opinion, agreeing with protestors that “it’s not right” to use Canadian public money for the production of a film “like this.”
Trofimova was born in Moscow and was educated in Toronto and Amsterdam, and her nationality is noted on her Wikipedia profile as Russian-Canadian, though her official status as a Canadian isn’t clear.
ZFF Cancels Screenings
Event organizers released the news canceling Russians at War on Thursday, September 26, citing safety concerns.
The ZFF website shows the film as having “taken place in the past,” and users are no longer able to buy tickets or look at seating plans.
Refunds for Ticket Holders
Ticket holders were emailed a notice that their already-purchased tickets would be canceled and the rull purchase price would be refunded as soon as possible. The refund could take up to three weeks. Ticketholders who haven’t been refunded by Tuesday, October 15 should contact the festival at tickets@zff.com.
Public screenings of RUSSIANS AT WAR cancelled
The Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) has decided not to screen the Canadian French documentary film RUSSIANS AT WAR publicly, due to safety reasons. For the ZFF, the safety of its audience, guests, partners as well as the staff is the top priority. The film, which has already been presented at other international festivals, will remain in the Documentary Film Competition of the ZFF. In view of the current situation, the director Anastasia Trofimova will not be travelling to Zurich. Any tickets that have already been purchased will be refunded.
Publikums-Vorführungen von RUSSIANS AT WAR abgesagt
Das Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) hat aufgrund von Sicherheitsüberlegungen entschieden den kanadisch-französischen Dokumentarfilm RUSSIANS AT WAR nicht öffentlich vorzuführen. Die Sicherheit unseres Publikums, der Gäste, Partner und Mitarbeitenden steht für das ZFF an oberster Stelle. Der Film, der an anderen internationalen Festivals schon gezeigt wurde, verbleibt im Dokumentarfilm-Wettbewerb des ZFF. Aufgrund der aktuellen Lage wird die Regisseurin Anastasia Trofimova nicht nach Zürich reisen. Bereits gekaufte Tickets werden rückerstattet.
Canceling Equates to Censoring
For Film’s Sake does not support war, suppression, or violence, nor sympathize with governments, organizations, or individuals who act this way, but we were interested in seeing this film. We think that Russians at War adds a perspective and footage that isn’t available through mainstream media, regardless of viewpoint, and viewers can use this film to form their own opinions. All information should be verified, especially now with deep fake videos and other AI-generated images, and all biases should be recognized and called out.
We feel that many of the voices against the film have not seen the film and do not know its contents, only its main ideas and what is show in trailers and clips. Individuals forcing organizations to censor information is just as damaging as censorship done by governments.
We booked tickets knowing that the movie is very likely propaganda, and we thought ourselves capable of focusing on one aspect of a topic without forgetting the greater issues. Wee were saddened by the news that our tickets were cancelled.
We are attending Zurich Film Festival this year, and covering it with articles, photos, videos, and movie notes. Check out our festival page, here.
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