“WE WILL NOT FADE AWAY” RECEIVES SPECIAL MENTION IN CANADA
The film by Alisa Kovalenko received a Special Jury Mention at the Doxa Documentary Film Festival.
The DOXA Documentary Film Festival is organised by the Documentary Media Society non-profit, which is based in Vancouver. The association's goal, as well as that of the festival itself, is to present independent and innovative documentaries to the audience in Vancouver. Their utmost priority is to educate the public about documentary films as a form of art. Thus, alongside film screenings, the festival hosts panel discussions, public forums, and educational programs.
This year's festival program includes Alisa Kovalenko's latest film. The production has been acknowledged by the jury of the festival.
In We Will Not Fade Away we follow five Ukrainian teenagers growing up in small towns near a coalfield. Just like their peers around the world, they struggle with boredom and the many frustrations of finding their own identity and path in life. However, these five live in the war-torn Donbass. Not only has the region been economically devastated, but there is constant fighting in the distance – and sometimes quite close by. The youngsters are struggling with reality, trying to find their way in all this chaos through drawing, photography, music and, above all, friendship. They rebel, go on adventures, bravely venture into minefields and coal shafts; they play in ruined houses, trying to make the most of their last golden hours of childhood. As they dream of escaping, an unexpected invitation arrives. Would you like to visit Nepal and trek through the foothills of the Himalayas? - a famous Ukrainian traveller asks them. Suddenly, there's light in the darkness. They train intensely to realise this seemingly impossible dream, recording their efforts in video diaries. As the situation in their homeland deteriorates, the threat of a full-scale Russian invasion looms. Will the hopes and dreams of these young people survive?
The complete list of winners is available here.