The right to be heard: Chernihiv opened the Travelling Docudays UA Festival with a film about the power of art
The right to be heard: Chernihiv opened the Travelling Docudays UA Festival with a film about the power of art
The opening took place in Chernihiv, where young people chose the film for the screening themselves. The first film of the festival was the documentary Last Song from Kabul by directors Kevin Macdonald and Ruhi Hamid.
It tells the story of students at a music school in Afghanistan who refuse to give up their love for music despite danger, prohibitions, and loss. Their struggle for the right to be heard is a struggle for their own dignity.
“Overall, this film strongly resonates with our reality,” shared Kateryna Shkryl, one of the screening participants. “You find something familiar in these moments: how they fight for the right to create, refusing to give up even when everything is against them. It’s about us.”
Photo: Young people share their impressions after watching the film, by Ivan Tereshchenko
This year, the Travelling Docudays UA in the Chernihiv Region covers five localities: Chernihiv, Ripky, Horodnia, Svitanok (Pryluky District), and Kozelets. A different film will be screened in each of them.
The regional screenings programme includes both international and Ukrainian films:
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Last Song from Kabul (Kevin Macdonald, Ruhi Hamid, UK)
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Where’s My Body Armor (Daria Penkova, Ukraine)
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How I Spent My Summer Holidays (Antonio Lukich, Ukraine)
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My Sextortion Diary (Patricia Franquesa, Spain)
During the meeting in Chernihiv, the audience discussed not only the film but also the importance of such events in the current circumstances.
“These are difficult times,” emphasised Oleksandr, a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, in an interview with Suspilne. Chernihiv. “It’s important for young people to develop and gain a deeper understanding of these issues. Festivals like this help us think and avoid repeating the same mistakes.”
After the screening, a facilitated discussion on human rights took place, during which participants shared their reflections on freedom, creativity, and responsibility.
The festival in the Chernihiv Region will run until 7 November.
Author: Olha Osadcha
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.
