On the eve of the tenth anniversary of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion, a private screening of the documentary Freedom on Fire by Oscar-nominated director Eugene Afeniyevsky took place in Lviv.
The American Oscar-nominated director Eugene Afeniyevsky has already impressed the world with his first film about Ukraine, Winter on Fire, which won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Toronto Film Festival in Canada and was nominated for an Oscar. His second film about Ukraine, Freedom on Fire, is a story about the incredible trials and extraordinary will and strength of Ukrainians in the war for their country in the first year of the full-scale invasion.
Freedom on Fire is based on real footage and exclusive interviews with people who fled their homes because of the war. To tell a comprehensive story about the war, Afineevsky built the film around the personal testimonies of Ukrainians whose lives have changed dramatically since 2014. The film’s protagonists are Ukrainian families, mothers and children, military, clergy, doctors, artists and journalists who face the horrors brought by Russia every day and who defend Ukrainian freedom every day, each in their own place.
According to the director, he managed to assemble a team of 43 cameramen and 9 editors during the 5 months of full-scale war. Dozens of people joined the filming, and more than 100 characters shared their stories. A director’s cut was edited especially for the Ukrainian premiere, which included footage shot in early 2023.
“This film is the path I have travelled over the past few years. It was not easy for me and my team, but it was necessary to tell the story of the real World War III. I am not afraid to call this war a global war, because if it were not for the resistance of Ukrainian soldiers, it could come to any country in the world tomorrow. It is important for us to show how Ukraine is defending democratic values around the world today. It was important for me to give a voice to Ukrainians so that the world could hear their stories and unite to help Ukraine,” the director said after the premiere.
The screening was attended by military personnel, volunteers, doctors, journalists and local government representatives, who have already shared their impressions of the film.
“After watching this film, I want to be silent. As a rule, documentaries tell about stories that have already passed, but this film shows what we are living right now. I believe that all Ukrainians should see this film and once again be convinced that our victory depends on each of us and we all have to make every effort to achieve it. I thank the director for his skill in bringing all these moments together,” said Andriy Sadovyi, Mayor of Lviv.
“The film immerses us in the reality we live in. Bucha, Irpin, Gostomel, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Mariupol. It’s a true story. Real filming, real people, real Heroes. The right accents.
Thank you to Mr Yevhen Afineevsky for his loud voice, which he carries around the world! There must be truth as opposed to propaganda. The world needs to know the truth,” shares her impressions Iryna Novosyadlo, mother of the released Azov fighter.
“This film should be shown not only in Western countries (for which this film was primarily created). It is definitely worth bringing it to Ukrainians who are beginning to forget who we are fighting, what we are fighting for, and what will happen if we lose,” said Viktor Bishchuk, host of the First Western TV channel.
It should be noted that the film Freedom on Fire will soon be available to everyone on the Apple TV+ streaming platform.