Documentary Crew Use Venice Red Carpet to Spotlight Ukrainian Prisoners of War

Documentary Crew Use Venice Red Carpet to Spotlight Ukrainian Prisoners of War

As a fervent advocate for truth and justice, I find myself deeply moved by the powerful statement made by Olha Zhurba and her team at the Venice Film Festival. The poignant use of fashion to underscore the plight of Ukrainian prisoners held captive by Russia is nothing short of brilliant. It’s a stark reminder that art can indeed serve as a powerful tool for change, illuminating the shadows that often go unseen in our world.


On Wednesday, a film crew utilized the limelight of the Venice Film Festival’s red carpet and adorned their attire with embroideries detailing the distances from Lido to places where Russian forces are keeping Ukrainian captives as a statement

In a non-competitive segment, Olha Zhurba’s documentary titled “Songs of Slow Burning Earth” had its global debut

Every garment crafted alongside Ukrainian artist Alisa Liubomska, boasts embroidery bearing eight distinct detention site names and their respective distances in kilometers from Lido. The team explained that each name signifies the lives of countless Ukrainian men and women

“Zhurba stated, ‘It’s important to recall the appalling treatment of detainees, the unjust trials and falsified accusations, the use of torture, and the fatalities – all acts Russia commits without consequences against individuals who should never have been detained in the first place. This is a significant tragedy that many people outside the country are unaware of. Those responsible for these actions must face justice.'”

Zhurba’s second long-format documentary, titled “Songs from a Slowing Earth,” serves as an audio-visual journal chronicling Ukraine’s plunge into war during the initial two years following the comprehensive Russian invasion.

The movie presents a tapestry of various landscapes, characters, sporadic dialogues, audible cues, and periods of quiet, subtly revealing how war has become an accepted aspect of society, tragically

The film titled “Songs of Slow Burning Earth” was created by Darya Bassel, in collaboration with the Ukrainian company Moon Man. This production is also a joint effort with Anne Köhncke from Denmark (co-founder of Final Cut for Real, known for films like “The Act of Killing” and “Flee“), as well as Kerstin Übelacker from Sweden (We Have a Plan). The project also involves ARTE France, Film i Skåne, and sales are being handled by Filmotor

As part of their planning process, the movie crew sought advice from both the Center for Civil Liberties and the Coordination Headquarters for the Management of Prisoners of War

In this campaign, Ukrainian fashion labels such as Tamar Keburia, Kachorovska, Andreas Moskin, Why Me, and Knitel contributed their clothing designs

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2024-09-05 00:55