Recently, the 19th Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival has started in the region, the partner of which in Uzhhorod is traditionally the Charitable Organization "Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya". Unfortunately, Maksym Butkevych, a friend of our organization and a long-time partner in holding the festival, is currently in Russian captivity, so this time we are uniting, including for the sake of Maksym!

"Due to the war, the festival was postponed from March to the end of the year. Not only the date, but also the theme of the event has changed. This year we are talking about the "State of Emergency", because it is in everything. Thus, our plans for life are temporarily put on hold, but we are still talking about the basic human needs and rights that are under threat every day," – the director of the CO "MACZ" Nataliya Kabatsiy said during the press conference in Uzhhorod Press Club.

Docudays UA’22 in Zakarpattia includes open screenings of the films participating in the festival for schoolchildren, students and a public closing event, which will be held on December 16-17. In addition to the screening of documentaries, there will be a children’s photo contest dedicated to children’s rights. The photography exhibition will be presented on December 14 in the hall of the Administrative Service Centre of Uzhhorod, and then the exhibition will travel around the region.

"The way to this year’s festival was quite long – there were many consultations and negotiations between partners, some of whom ended up abroad because of the war. But as a result, almost all participants responded and supported the festival to show both the world and the aggressor country that even in the conditions of the state of emergency and war, we continue to live, unite, fight for human rights and freedom. Docudays UA will be held in 22 regions of Ukraine, as well as in those countries where the participants from the regions of active hostilities currently live. The screenings in Zakarpattia will start with educational institutions, and then the audience will enjoy open screenings," – the co-coordinator of the festival in Uzhhorod, lawyer Mariya Mendzhul said.

One of the goals of Docudays UA in 2022 is to document the war and Russian war crimes on the territory of Ukraine. The festival program includes four films made during the war and about the war – its impact on people, risks and challenges faced by society. These films were included in the program of the final screening in Uzhhorod:

On December 16, the audience will see the feature film "A House Made of Splinters" (directed by Simon Lereng Wilmont, Denmark, Ukraine, Sweden, Finland) about a safe haven for children temporarily separated from their parents;

On December 17, four short films will be presented to the guests: "Liturgy of Anti-Tank Obstacles" (directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, Ukraine), "Peace and Tranquility" (directed by Myro Klochko, Ukraine), "I Did Not Want to Make a War Film" (directed by Nadiya Parfan, Ukraine) and "Fortress Mariupol. Orest" (directed by Yuliia Hontaruk, Ukraine).

All films were shot in 2022, so the stories are extremely lively and relevant.

"This year our participation is especially important due to the exceptional circumstances – through the festival the Committee expresses solidarity with our friend and permanent moderator of the festival events Maksym Butkevych, who is currently held captive in the Russian Federation. Previously, during the festivals, we held joint actions with him in support of the prisoners Oleh Sentsov, Oleksandr Kolchenko... Unfortunately, this time we have to talk about Maksym’s captivity. We believe that with the joint efforts of the state, civil society, art we are bringing closer the time when Maksym Butkevych will be at home, healthy and full of strength to continue his public and human rights activities," – Nataliya Kabatsiy added.

Given the current situation, the place and time of the open screening of the films on December 16 and 17 will be announced additionally.