In Disgraceful Move, TIFF Refuses To Pull Russian Propaganda Piece

Our tax dollars are being used to fund the propaganda of a hostile nation.

At a time when our tax dollars should be going towards strengthening our military and helping our democratic allies defend themselves, our money is instead being spent on promoting Russian propaganda.

And worst of all, the promoters of that propaganda refuse to do the right thing.

The Toronto International Film Festival has refused to pull ‘Russians at War,’ a film designed to create a sympathetic portrayal of Russia’s troops invading Ukraine. The film leaves out Russia’s myriad war crimes and was made by someone with long-time connections to Russia’s ruthless propaganda apparatus.

“Let’s be very clear about this: Every single person who attends the @TIFF_NET screening of the Russian propaganda warfare doc, “Russians at War” are allowing Russia to wage disinfo warfare, and are legitimizing and whitewashing this tool of war. Don’t do it!”

As Russia slaughters innocents in Ukraine, provides support to Iran and terror groups like Hamas, partners with China on building a military machine to destroy the free world, and pays propagandists in our midst to destabilize our country, it is an absolute disgrace that our tax dollars are funding Russia’s propaganda narratives.

Canada needs to wake up and crack down significantly on Russian propaganda, along with cracking down on China and Iran’s foreign interference efforts.

We are in a New Cold War, and it’s time to start acting like it.

Spencer Fernando