Ukraine, Canada strengthen cultural ties to combat Russian propaganda in film industry

Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine Mykola Tochytskyi held a meeting with Canada's Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage Isabelle Mondou, during which they discussed countering the influence of Russian propaganda in the film industry. The meeting came after the Venice International Film Festival showed the "Russians at War" documentary, which obscures occupiers' crimes against Ukrainian civilians. The movie received $340,000 in funding from Canadian taxpayers. Recently, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress slammed the film, saying that it equates the aggressor and the victim, portraying Russia’s war against Ukraine as a “nefarious game.” The organization argued that this perspective represents a moral equivalency of the most disgraceful kind and serves to infantilize the criminal actions of Russian forces in Ukraine. During the meeting, the Ukrainian minister also emphasized the importance of strategic communications to counter Russia’s information attacks and to shape an objective understanding of Ukraine’s history and culture worldwide. A separate topic was the completion of the project for the construction of the National Holodomor-Genocide Museum in Kyiv, which is a significant step in preserving the historical memory of one of the most tragic chapters in Ukraine's history. "This meeting highlights the strengthening of cooperation between Ukraine and Canada in the field of culture and strategic communications, which will further enhance cultural and diplomatic ties between the two countries," the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications emphasized. Earlier, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) decided to screen Russians at War on 17 September at the TIFF Lightbox, after initially suspending showings due to security concerns after the film sparked protests from Ukrainian officials and community, who claimed it amounts to propaganda.

Toronto film festival to screen Russians at War film amidst propaganda claims

Protests in Canada, organized by Ukrainian groups and officials like Consul General Oleh Nikolenko, criticized the film for attempting to “humanize” Russia’s military. Russian Canadian filmmaker and former employee of Russian propagandist channel RT, Anastasia Trofimova, defended her work, stating that she aimed to provide insight into a perspective rarely heard in Canada. Related:

• Ukrainian Canadian Congress calls for investigation into budget funding of “Russians at War” film
• Why “Russians at War” is pure propaganda, not art
• Russian soldiers admit heavy losses, looting, shelling civilians in phone calls to wives and mothers
• Army of marauders: the long history of Russian military looting, pillaging, and stealing