Paul Gross says it’s just coincidence that his WWI drama Passchendaele made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival at a time when Canada is at war in Afghanistan.

‘You don’t make films like these thinking about timing and when they’re going to come out…I didn’t think it would be relevant today,’ Gross said at a Friday morning press conference, one day after the film opened the fest.

Gross was flanked by co-stars Gil Bellows, Caroline Dhavernas, Joe Dinicol and producer Niv Fichman of Toronto’s Rhombus Media.

Bellows says it hit home seeing the movie shortly after three Canadian soldiers died in combat in Afghanistan.

‘The film makes you understand about sacrifice,’ adds the Vancouver native, who plays the one-armed best friend to Gross’ character, Michael Dunne.

The conference got off to a lighthearted start with Gross joking that he was also ‘head of transportation’ when moderator Robert Gray introduced him by listing his credits on the $20-million feature as ‘director, producer, screenwriter, actor…heartthrob.’

But the Calgary-born actor-turned-director grew serious when he talked about his grandfather’s involvement in the battle of Passchendaele, which became the inspiration for the film.

‘I was intensely curious about the nature of warfare and how we survived it… my grandfather was wounded three times, so him just surviving the war seems heroic to me,’ Gross said.

The filmmaker also addressed the Tories’ recent budget cuts, noting that it works against creators promoting Canadian arts and culture.

‘I’m not against examining and revisiting arts programs. The problem with the cuts is that they’re willy-nilly… we need a proper cultural review,’ Gross said.

‘People [abroad] love Canada because of what they know about us… our cinema, literature, art,’ added Fichman. ‘No one will want to do business with us if they don’t know and respect us.’

Passchendaele opens in Canada on Oct. 17 through Alliance Films, which timed the film’s release to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

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Playback Daily‘s coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival continues through this weekend with special editions on Saturday and Sunday.