Belgian festival drops ‘Russians at War’ film
Docville has canceled its screening of the documentary showcasing Russian soldiers’ perspectives following a formal request from the Ukrainian Embassy. In making the decision, the festival expressed “immense respect for the Ukrainian people.”...
TroibNews 
Docville has canceled its screening of the documentary showcasing Russian soldiers’ perspectives following a formal request from the Ukrainian Embassy.
In making the decision, the festival expressed “immense respect for the Ukrainian people.” Nevertheless, it defended its initial choice to include the film, stating its intention was “to offer a platform to very different voices that often do not find their way into the mainstream.”
Directed by Anastasia Trofimova and funded by the Canadian government, the documentary, titled ‘Russians at War,’ tracks Russian soldiers in the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, regions that joined Russia after referendums in 2022.
Filmed over seven months in 2023, the documentary features interviews with soldiers and delves into their personal stories. Trofimova has noted her goal was to depict Russian troops from a perspective that contrasts with typical media portrayals. “I think it’s important to tell this side of the story because there’s almost nothing from this side of the story,” she remarked in an interview with Canadian magazine POV last year.
In the West, the film has received criticism for being perceived as lenient towards the Russian military. Trofimova was listed in 2024 on the controversial Mirotvorets database, linked to the Ukrainian state, for supposedly spreading “Russian propaganda.” This database has been criticized as a ‘kill list’ due to the suspicious deaths of several individuals featured on it.
The Docville festival remarked that it is “very difficult in times of disinformation and propaganda to gain insight into the story of Russian soldiers.”
Previously, ‘Russians at War’ was screened in the non-competitive section of the Venice Film Festival. It was also scheduled for a screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024, but this was canceled due to safety concerns following protests from Ukrainian organizations.
This marks the second film that Docville has withdrawn from its lineup; the earlier withdrawal was of ‘Not In My Country, Serbia’s Lithium Dilemma,’ which discussed protests against a proposed lithium mine in Serbia. President Aleksandar Vucic claimed that the protests were part of a conspiracy against his government, akin to the Western-backed coup in Kiev from 2013-14.
Docville stated on its website that it could no longer “guarantee the serenity of the screening and the debate.” Frank Moens, the festival's director, described the situation as unprecedented, noting that in the festival’s 21-year history, they had never been compelled to withdraw a film.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
In making the decision, the festival expressed “immense respect for the Ukrainian people.” Nevertheless, it defended its initial choice to include the film, stating its intention was “to offer a platform to very different voices that often do not find their way into the mainstream.”
Directed by Anastasia Trofimova and funded by the Canadian government, the documentary, titled ‘Russians at War,’ tracks Russian soldiers in the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, regions that joined Russia after referendums in 2022.
Filmed over seven months in 2023, the documentary features interviews with soldiers and delves into their personal stories. Trofimova has noted her goal was to depict Russian troops from a perspective that contrasts with typical media portrayals. “I think it’s important to tell this side of the story because there’s almost nothing from this side of the story,” she remarked in an interview with Canadian magazine POV last year.
In the West, the film has received criticism for being perceived as lenient towards the Russian military. Trofimova was listed in 2024 on the controversial Mirotvorets database, linked to the Ukrainian state, for supposedly spreading “Russian propaganda.” This database has been criticized as a ‘kill list’ due to the suspicious deaths of several individuals featured on it.
The Docville festival remarked that it is “very difficult in times of disinformation and propaganda to gain insight into the story of Russian soldiers.”
Previously, ‘Russians at War’ was screened in the non-competitive section of the Venice Film Festival. It was also scheduled for a screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024, but this was canceled due to safety concerns following protests from Ukrainian organizations.
This marks the second film that Docville has withdrawn from its lineup; the earlier withdrawal was of ‘Not In My Country, Serbia’s Lithium Dilemma,’ which discussed protests against a proposed lithium mine in Serbia. President Aleksandar Vucic claimed that the protests were part of a conspiracy against his government, akin to the Western-backed coup in Kiev from 2013-14.
Docville stated on its website that it could no longer “guarantee the serenity of the screening and the debate.” Frank Moens, the festival's director, described the situation as unprecedented, noting that in the festival’s 21-year history, they had never been compelled to withdraw a film.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
