IFFH | 12 november | Block 11 Challenges and Hope

17.50 – 19.25 | Block 11 | Challenges and Hope

[95 min]

This is a powerful and emotionally charged film block comprising four short films that collectively explore the ongoing war in Ukraine, its consequences, the challenges faced by its people, and the hope for a better future. Through these poignant narratives, viewers are taken on a journey through the heart of the conflict, offering a multifaceted perspective on the resilience and courage of the Ukrainian people.

Till I pass Out [Ukraine; 10 min]

Director: Kateryna Holovko

The story follows a path of a person whose life was shattered by war – she lost her home city, the home itself, and she loved one. She tries to find an answer to a question: how do you carry on with your life, and what for?

Belonging [The Netherlands; 23 min]

Director: Michelle Traurig, Roos Cals

The short documentary is about four young Ukrainian female students brought from Kyiv to Amsterdam in March 2022 by a professor from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, so that they could complete their studies there and be safe. The film explore the professor’s role and motivation and show the girl’s current lives in Amsterdam, while diving into the true meaning of ‘belonging’.

Books Not Bombs [The Netherlands; 24 min]

Director: Stefano Di Pietro
Whilst the war is raging in Ukraine, a group of educators are working to continue the education reform they strongly believe in.

Note of Defiance [UK;15 min]

Director: Brian Henderson

Filmed in early 2023, on the Ukrainian-Russian border, this short documentary explores two artists’ use of their creativity and art as a means of cultural survival and defiance.

Q & A with filmmakers

Note: Show times, screening or sequence of films may change at IFFH management’s discretion for technical or unforeseeable circumstances