In this second article by Ukrainian critic and filmmaker Elena Rubashevska, she outlines some practical ways that the international film community can support film workers in Ukraine. Read the first article here, in which Elena discusses her experiences as a filmmaker in the days preceding and following the Russian invasion.
The whole world seems to hold its breath as it watches how, day-by-day, Ukraine is gradually destroyed by Russian aggression. This confrontation is felt on so many levels, including artistic ones. The Ukrainian film industry must stand up to oppose this outrageous attack, and it needs the help and support of its international colleagues.
The first action taken was to call for a boycott of Russian artists and their films. This immediately led to heated discussions, even within the Ukrainian community. Whilst visiting Russia and participating in a cultural event there would show endorsement of the unlawful and inhuman deeds perpetrated by the Russian state, it’s important to acknowledge that there are many talented and courageous Russian artists who could be of vital support to Ukraine in this war and help build opposition inside our enemy’s camp. Banning them from all activities across Europe, and indeed the world, would mean destroying what little hope we have to wake up Russian society from within.
Spreading accurate information to the Russian people
Together with fellow filmmakers from Russia and France, on Friday 4 March we launched what we hope will become a daily online broadcast to people in Russia. Each day a few Ukrainian artists speak in Russian about what they are really going through at the moment. Russian viewers can ask questions to the speakers, helping them to stay up to date on the true state of affairs. We need organisations out there to draw attention to initiatives like this and help spread the word among the Russian people. They can and will become our crucial ally.
Partnering with Ukrainian film festivals
Many film festivals in Ukraine will now either be canceled or postponed. One of them, the OKO International Ethnographic Film Festival, continues to receive submissions and intends to produce a programme with a special focus on films relating to peace, tolerance and diversity. There is a high chance that the festival will not be able to take place as planned, but the festival team is determined to compose this programme and have it screened at partnering festivals all over the globe. For that, we will need all the support possible. Any friendships established now can contribute to a return to peace and the prevention of horrible events like those in Ukraine from happening again. Helping Ukrainian film festivals to build a network and share their perspectives is one example of practical help that the international film community can offer.
Sharing evidence
There will be (and already is) a lot of evidence collected by Ukrainian filmmakers that captures their personal experiences of the conflict and crimes committed during the war. We will not stay silent, and we want to reach out to the world through as many platforms as possible. Public talks, discussions, special screenings; they can all be of help in times like this. Many materials will have to be processed quickly and shared among the filmmaking community. Letters, speeches and videos will need to be translated into as many languages as possible.
Celebrating the cultural richness of Ukraine
It seems clear (and makes me sad) that from now on, Ukrainian cinema will be exclusively associated with war. In the years to come, scores of projects which depict the struggles of the Ukrainian nation will be green-lit. And though this will be a big opportunity for many filmmakers, I keep thinking of all those talented directors and screenwriters who wanted to make a comedy, a romance film, a fantasy, children’s movies… So I plead to the international community: don’t prioritize war when it comes to Ukraine! We are so much more than that. And films which help people discover the cultural richness of our land will provide as good a contribution (if not better) to establishing peace in Ukraine as those which focus on suffering and destruction. We’ve had enough of that already…
Hiring Ukrainian film workers
The European Union has already shown great support to Ukrainian filmmakers by calling on film organisations to hire refugees and provide them with practical support. Judging by the current situation, many more filmmakers will have to flee the country and seek shelter for an unknown amount of time. Organisations could offer them a place to stay and commission them to work on specific projects, allowing them to do what they can even when far from home. Though we are immensely grateful for any opportunities like this, and are ready to contribute to the world’s cinema landscape, our main objective is to win back our country and continue to develop its filmmaking infrastructure: telling stories important to Ukrainian society, having our own studios and sets, and, most importantly, peace for all Ukrainian citizens.
Elena Rubashevska is a film critic and director, based in Kyiv, Ukraine. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), the program coordinator at the OKO International Ethnographic Film Festival, and a member of the international film critics’ commission for Arab Film Awards. She has worked as a director and screenwriter, creating media content for non-governmental organizations and socially responsible businesses such as WWF, OSCE, and the UN, with a special focus on projects related to the East of Ukraine. As an editor, she runs the website kinoukraine.com. She is also the author of a series of video lectures dedicated to the history of Ukrainian cinema. After escaping Ukraine in February 2022, she became part of the EnergaCAMERIMAGE Film Festival in Torun, Poland.
We at the ICO have been shocked by the terrible events currently taking place in Ukraine. If you are organising your own film/cinema events or initiatives in solidarity with Ukraine then get in touch with us and we will be happy to help spread the word. If you are interested in getting involved in some of the initiatives Elena discusses here, please email us and we’ll let you know when we have more information.