From November 21, the 15th International Traveling Festival Docudays UA will start in the Chernihiv region

On November 13, at the Svitoglyad Cultural and Business Center in Chernihiv, the organizers presented the program of the XV Traveling International Documentary Film Festival on Human Rights Docudays UA in Chernihiv Oblast, which will run from November 20 to December 12 under the slogan “Levels of Equality”.

From November 21 to December 12, Chernihiv and the region will host screenings of films from the XV Traveling International Documentary Film Festival on Human Rights “Docudays UA”. The main theme of this year’s festival is called “Levels of Equality” and is dedicated to social challenges related to the concept of equality. This is a proposal to discuss common stereotypes and determine how to practice equality in our everyday lives, ultimately – to “measure” levels of equality. The key film program is dedicated to groups of people who most often face inequality, are discriminated against in society and are underrepresented in the media. The festival offers visitors to look at the issue of inequality from different perspectives – not only through cinema, but also through legal education and human rights activities, discussions. Information about the events will be announced by the organizers.

On December 1,

the Intermezzo Cultural and Art Center will screen the film “There are no obvious manifestations”.

The film “There are no obvious manifestations” raises a number of important questions, such as: what remains behind the scenes of heroic videos about our soldiers in Ukraine? What do they have to face, alone, in a peaceful life, and where does the war end? This is the story of a woman who returns from the war. Talking to psychologists, struggling with PTSD and panic attacks, she tries to return to a normal life. This documentary shows her path from the beginning of rehabilitation to returning to work.

On December 2,

the Blyn-Chiki cafe will screen the film “A Woman in Captivity” – a film about Marish, a 52-year-old Hungarian woman who has been serving one family for a decade, working 20 hours a day without pay. Her oppressors have taken away her documents and she is not allowed to leave the house without permission. She is treated like an animal: she is fed leftovers and is not given a bed to sleep in. Marish spends her days with fear in her heart, but dreams of getting her life back. The presence of the camera helps her realize that she is not alone. She begins to show trust. After two years of filming, she gathers her courage and tells about her plan: “I will escape.” The film traces Marish’s heroic path back to freedom.

December 3

The Chernihiv Regional Universal Scientific Library named after V. G. Korolenko will show “My Happy Difficult Family.” This witty youth documentary tells the story of three young girls of different ages. They have something in common: an unusual family structure. Of course, there is never a shortage of adventures with relatives… The girls introduce their families and share their feelings and admiration for their parents for the first time.

December 9

The Blyn-Chiki cafe will show the film “Silent War.” Since the beginning of the conflict in Syria, thousands of women have suffered from rape, which the Syrian regime uses as a weapon of war, committing a crime against humanity. The women who speak out in this film have decided to break their silence. Their testimonies are rare, exceptional and very sad. They are the voices of the unspeakable crimes of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

For reference:

Docudays UA

is the only international documentary film festival on human rights in Ukraine. It is non-political and non-commercial, and takes place every year during the last week of March in Kyiv. The organizers of the festival are: Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, NGO “Pivden”, Kherson Regional Charity and Health Fund, NGO “Center for Modern Information Technologies and Visual Arts”.

Every year, in the fall, Docudays UA traditionally presents the best films in the regions of Ukraine during the Traveling Festival. Screenings last from October to December (inclusive). The traveling international festival of documentary films on human rights Docudays UA is held with the support of the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine.

The mission of the Traveling Festival

is to create opportunities for every person in Ukraine to watch the most talented and relevant documentary films from around the world. In this way, we contribute to the development of critical thinking, the formation of an active civic position and the attitude to human dignity as the highest value. By implementing our mission, we contribute to the popularization and development of documentary films and to increasing the level of respect for human rights in Ukraine.

The goal of the Traveling Festival

is to contribute to the popularization and development of documentary films and increasing the level of respect for human rights in Ukraine.

The festival is non-political and non-commercial. Admission to all film screenings is free.

More information about the program of regional screenings can be found on the web resources of the NGO “MART”, the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights, as well as at the official Traveling Documentary Film Festival on Human Rights Docudays UA.