Canada Halts Support for Controversial Russian Documentary Amid Freeland's Concerns and TIFF Screening Backlash

Sep 10, 2024, 07:53 PM

The controversial documentary 'Russians at War' directed by Anastasia Trofimova, a former Russia Today (RT) employee, has sparked significant backlash in Canada. The film, which covers Russian soldiers in Ukraine, received $340,000 from the federal Canadian Media Fund and $70,500 from TVO, a publicly-funded Canadian educational television network. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland expressed grave concerns about the use of public funds to support the documentary, stating that Canadian money should not support media that attempts to whitewash Russia’s war crimes. In response to the criticism, TVO has decided to withdraw its support and will no longer air the film. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has also faced scrutiny for screening the documentary. The controversy highlights ongoing concerns about Russian propaganda and foreign interference in Canadian media.