Despite criticism, a film about Russian soldiers will be screened at the Zurich Film Festival Culture

The film sparked outrage after it was first screened at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month. Some have called it a pro-Kremlin film intended to justify Moscow’s attack on Ukraine.

Ukraine on Monday added its creator, Russian-Canadian director Anastasia Trofimova, to a national security blacklist, saying the film spreads Russian propaganda.

The Swiss festival program released to the media on Thursday describes it as a film that depicts how “Russian frontline soldiers in Ukraine (confront) the fragility of democracy.”

“We understand that Ukrainians are unhappy,” but the film will be screened as scheduled, festival director Christian Jungen said at a press conference in Zurich, Keystone-ATS news agency reported.

He stressed that films should stimulate debate, adding that he sees Russians at War as an anti-war film.

A representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine warned the organizers of the festival on Thursday that they risk damaging their reputation by holding this screening.

“This is a propaganda film that rehabilitates war crimes, not a documentary,” wrote Heorhijus Tychs on the X social network. – The real Russians in the war are occupiers, war criminals and rapists. Covering them makes you complicit.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine had already stated on “X” on Wednesday that it was outraged by the decision of the organizers of the Zurich Film Festival.

A. Trofimova’s website states that she has produced documentaries about Syria, Iraq and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which were shown on the Russian state television RT, which is subject to sanctions by the European Union and the United States.

Ch. Jungen admitted that the director “is not unproblematic”, and emphasized that “Russians at War” will be discussed during the festival.

The festival, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and runs from October 3-13, will feature a host of stars including Kate Winslet, Richard Gere and Jude Law.