At the Zaporizhzhia Regional Universal Science Library, a screening of the short animated film Inside, the Valley Sings (dir. Nathan Fagan, Ireland, 2024) took place as part of the 22nd Travelling Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival. The event was moderated by Larysa Holovko, the regional coordinator of the Travelling Docudays UA in Zaporizhzhia.

The film, awarded the Dublin International Film Festival prize for Best Animated Short, immerses viewers in the inner world of three prisoners who, trapped in the endless horror of isolation, find salvation in the power of imagination. It is a story about freedom, endurance, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Photo: screening of the film In the Heart of the Valley - Song by authors Ulyana Matich and Olena Olshanska

“This film is a true discovery,” shared one of the festival’s regular viewers.

“Probably the best film about human rights. It’s stories like this that make me come to the Travelling Festival every year,” added another.

Photo: by authors Ulyana Matich and Olena Olshanska

The screening was followed by a Living Library, an interactive event where people become “books,” and reading is replaced by live conversation. This time, the participants were divided into three thematic groups to reflect on different aspects of the film’s themes: freedom, meaning, and responsibility.

Iryna Fedorets, deputy head of the branch of the Probation Centre State Institution in the Zaporizhzhia Region, spoke about the modern probation system in Ukraine. She emphasized the service’s humanistic approach and how a second chance can become the beginning of a new life.

Nataliia Yatsenko, deputy head of the Foreign Languages Documents Department at the Zaporizhzhia Regional Universal Science Library, presented Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, one of the most influential works of the 20th century, which proves that even in the harshest conditions, a person can preserve dignity and find meaning. The story of Frankl — a doctor, philosopher, and concentration camp survivor — has become a symbol of spiritual resilience and love for life.

Yuliia Mitiushyna, assistant at the Window on America coordination center, shared some experience of the development of democracy in the United States, spoke about citizens’ rights and responsibilities, the principles of a participatory society, and the importance of each person’s social responsibility.

Photo: Discussion during the “Living Library,” by Ulyana Matich and Olena Olshanska

The Living Library format created a safe space for dialogue, empathy, and mutual respect. The exchange among participants demonstrated that freedom is not only the absence of walls but also an inner state born of awareness, support, and mutual trust.

Author: Larysa Holovko

The 22nd Travelling Docudays UA is held with the financial support of the European Union, the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, and International Media Support. The opinions, conclusions or recommendations do not necessarily correspond to the views of the European Union, the governments or charities of these countries. Responsibility for the content of the publication lies solely on its authors.