We Will Not Fade Away
Donbas, 2019. The prospect of a new Russian invasion hangs in the air, while the sounds from the old one still ring in the distance. In this wartime setting, five teenagers start to think about their future. Their energy, enthusiasm, and hope allow them to fully live out their last golden hours of childhood despite the circumstances. They paint, take photographs, fantasise about acting, or becoming the next Elon Musk. They rebel, seek adventures, walk into minefields, and sunbathe by a local lake. They dream of escaping not only the war, but also the boredom of a small town. Then, an opportunity arises to embark on a long journey to Nepal. Will their dream of conquering the world come true?
Age recommendation: 12+
The screening on November 7th will be preceded by the anti-war short film "Murals" inspired by the street artist Banksy.
The audiovisual art project "Murals" was started by Ukrainian artist Artem Ivanenko, who recorded the street art created by the infamous Banksy in the war-torn city of Irpin in 3D scans. Created in collaboration with directors Alex Topaller and Dan Shapiro, "Murals" was first presented at the Cannes Film Market for technological innovation, Cannes Next, in May 2023.
"Murals" brings the viewer face to face with the devastation of war through Banksy's street art found on ruined buildings. Before the screening on November 7th, there is an opportunity to see the film at the PÖFF opening ceremony and later on November 9th at the PÖFF Shorts Night cinema.
Alisa Kovalenko (1987) is a Ukrainian award-winning filmmaker. She was born and grew up in Zaporizhia, southeastern Ukraine. Alisa studied documentary at the Karpenko-Kary university, the most renowned film school in Ukraine, and at the Andrzej Wajda School of film directing in Warsaw, Poland. Her debut feature-length documentary "Alisa in Warland", a personal diary through revolution and war in Ukraine, premiered at IDFA Amsterdam 2015 in the First-appearance competition. "Home Games", a social drama following a young female soccer player, screened first at Sheffield Doc/Fest 2018, at IDFA again and in over 120 festivals. "Home Games" was the first Ukrainian creative documentary acquired by Netflix in Europe in 2020. After the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Alisa joined a volunteer unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), fighting four months in the trenches before returning to finish her latest film about the Donbas teenage generation. "We Will Not Fade Away" had its world premiere in competition at the Berlinale 2023. Alisa received the award for best director of the international competition at One World 2023 in Prague and "We Will Not Fade Away" received the Silver Eye Award 2023 of the best Central and Eastern European documentary 2023. Alisa’s upcoming project "Frontline", produced by the Academy 2023 nominated producer Monica Hellström ("A House Made of Splinters"; "Flee"), is supported by Chicken & Egg Pictures. Alisa has been a member of the European Film Academy (EFA) since 2018.
Filmography:
Valik/Selected: Sister Zo (2014), Alisa in Warland (2015), Home Games (2018), Ми не згаснемо (We Will Not Fade Away, 2023)
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