“TRACES” WINS MOVIES THAT MATTER

“Traces”, directed by Alisa Kovalenko and Marysia Nikitiuk, won the Grand Jury Documentary Award at the Movies That Matter festival, which has just concluded in The Hague.

Movies That Matter is a renowned festival dedicated to films that address issues of social justice and human rights. During this year’s edition of the festival, which took place from 20 to 28 March, over 90 documentary and feature films were screened, exploring themes such as activism, international law and equality.

One of the titles featured in the competition was the feature-length film “Traces” – a Polish-Ukrainian co-production directed by Alisa Kovalenko and Marysia Nikitiuk – which had recently won an award at the Berlinale. The film was also recognised by the jury in The Hague, which awarded it the Grand Jury Documentary Award. 

”This film, in particular, left us deeply affected — both by its difficult and challenging subject matter, and by its thoughtful and composed form. With its unique access to the subject and its characters, this film exposes atrocities committed against the vulnerable with respect, intimacy, and humility. Above all, it offers a sense of healing through its gaze upon nature, which continues to renew itself despite everything.” - we read in the jury's statement.

“Traces” tells the story of Ukrainian women who survived sexual violence during Russia’s war and refuse to remain silent. Kovalenko – director and protagonist of last year’s “My Dear Theo” which documented her own frontline experience – now returns with a collective perspective, revealing sexual violence as a weapon of war. The film offers an empathetic portrait of six individuals and a story of survival, courage, and solidarity forged through community. Its central message is clear: we must not look away – an appeal voiced by both the protagonists and the filmmakers as they confront the stigma surrounding survivors. The title itself underscores the layered nature of such trauma, from visible traces of destruction to the less tangible wounds that persist in the psyche and social relationships.

You can find out more about the festival here.