News Feed

Belgian film festival cancels screening of 'Russians at War' documentary after Ukraine's appeal

1 min read
Belgian film festival cancels screening of 'Russians at War' documentary after Ukraine's appeal
Director Anastasia Trofimova attends the photocall of the movie 'Russians at War' presented out of competition during the 81st International Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido, on Sep. 5, 2024. (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP via Getty Images)

The Docville Film Festival in Leuven canceled the screening of the controversial "Russians at War" documentary after an intervention of the Ukrainian Embassy, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry announced on March 31.

Canadian-Russian director Anastasia Trofimova's documentary has faced criticism for what many perceive as an attempt to whitewash Russian soldiers involved in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

The embassy appealed to the Belgian federal government, the Flemish government, the local authorities of Leuven, the management of the Docville festival, and the Catholic University of Leuven to cancel the screening of the film.

The movie portrays Russian soldiers in Ukraine as ordinary people, never shows or mentions the war crimes committed by them in Ukraine, and subtly questions the truthfulness of Ukrainian testimonies of them.

Earlier in her career, Trofimova worked for Russia Today (RT), a Kremlin-backed propaganda outlet.

The movie's past screenings have sparked protests in Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands.

‘Outright propaganda’ — Dutch university to screen ‘Russians at War’ and host panel with controversial director
A Dutch university is to screen the controversial documentary “Russians at War” and a panel discussion with its director, despite Ukrainian calls for it be be canceled because it “whitewashes… murder, rape, and torture.” Canadian-Russian director Anastasia Trofimova’s documentary has been criticize…
Article image
Avatar
Kateryna Hodunova

News Editor

Kateryna Hodunova is a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked as a sports journalist in several Ukrainian outlets and was the deputy chief editor at Suspilne Sport. Kateryna covered the 2022 Olympics in Beijing and was included in the Special Mentions list at the AIPS Sport Media Awards. She holds a bachelor's degree in political journalism from Taras Shevchenko University and a master's degree in political science from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

Read more
News Feed
 (Updated:  )

"I'm very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that, and we'll be doing something to help people live," Trump said in an interview on the Scott Jennings Radio Show. "It's not a question of Ukraine. It's help people live," he added. "7,000 are dying every single week — soldiers mostly — but 7,000 people. And if I can help to stop that, I think I have an obligation to do that.

Show More