People who are far away from their homeland usually seek to preserve the connection with their culture and people. Especially when they had to leave their home due to an emergency such as the full-scale war. Even when they’re on another continent and in remote areas of the world, people want to be Ukranians and don’t forget their roots and history. 

Regional partners of the Travelling Docudays UA from Poltava organised a special screening of the film Young Plato in Ireland specifically for Ukrainian citizens, helping them to feel “near” Ukraine again.

Young Plato by Irish filmmakers Neasa Ní Chianáin and Declan McGrath brought together Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homeland due to the great war. In Ireland, the film’s story was especially resonant for the Ukrainian audience. The documentary is a story about the lives of residents of Belfast, Northern Ireland, who are trying to change themselves and the world around them.

A still from Young Plato

The screening was moderated by Olena Mohylna, a teacher from Lysychansk in the Luhansk Region; she is now a volunteer for the Ukrainian Culture and Education Centre in Kilkenny. The film’s director Neasa Ní Chianáin was a guest at the discussion. Together with her, the festival audience discussed ways to change themselves and the world and talked about how education and learning was a force that could improve the world around us.

For Olena Mohylna, this event is also important because it promotes international cultural exchange between Ukraine and Ireland. She is convinced that we are capable of incredible things when we are united, even when we’re far away from one another.

Screening of Young Plato in Ireland as part of the Travelling Docudays UA

The festival screenings of this year’s Travelling Docudays UA abroad not only expand the Festival’s geography but also help unite Ukrainians who have been scattered around the world by fate. The Festival makes it clear that there is still a connection between us, and that we have a shared future in our peaceful, happy, and independent country.

An important part of the festival was the discussion of the Lugano Principles, which are to serve as the basis for Ukraine’s postwar recovery and its democratic development. One of the principles is partnership: Ukraine should be the core leading initiator of the process of recovery in cooperation with international partners. In addition, the government must ensure the inclusion of various actors in the decision making about recovery and reforms on the foundations of transparency, equality, and interaction with businesses, the science community, civil society, and local communities.

Author: Olena Burim, coordinator of the Travelling Docudays UA in Poltava. 

Header photo: Travelling Docudays UA from Poltava. 

The 20th Travelling Docudays UA is held with the support of the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine, US Embassy in Ukraine. The opinions, conclusions or recommendations do not necessarily reflect the views of the governments, charities, or companies of these countries. Responsibility for the contents of the material lies solely on its authors.