During the event, which is being held for the seventh time, Warsaw’s renowned Kinoteka cinema will screen 56 films, including new features, documentaries, shorts and animated films as well as a number of award-winning productions made in Ukraine in recent years.
“This year has made Ukrainian cinema very important and audiences want to watch Ukrainian films," said festival director Beata Bierońska-Lach. "Our festival aims to not only enable viewers to learn more about Ukraine, but above all supports Ukraine and its struggle, and spreads the voice of Ukraine in the world. The filmmakers show the war in Ukraine, which has been going on since 2014.”
Bierońska-Lach added: "The festival showed just how strong the need is for discussion, mutual knowledge and understanding. More and more Ukrainians are coming to Poland. They are our neighbors, co-workers and colleagues. We want the festival to build a symbolic bridge between Poles and Ukrainians."
'Between War and Hope'
The festival’s motto this year is “Between War and Hope.” The event consists of four sections: Women's Stories, Faces of Ukraine, Art of Freedom, and Mariupol.
The event is set to be accompanied by meetings with artists and debates, a concert by the SzaZa duo and the Dziczka group, as well as an exhibition entitled I’m Staying Here! by photographer and filmmaker Sebastian Płocharski, who has been documenting the evacuation of residents from Ukraine's eastern Donbas region in recent months.
The Ukraine! Film Festival runs in Warsaw until October 29. From November 1 to 14, the event will be streamed online here.
Screenings will also be held in selected other Polish cities, including Kraków, Żywiec, Wrocław, Gdańsk, Białystok, Gliwice, Toruń, Poznań and Gorzów Wielkopolski.
(jh/gs)
Source: IAR