We Will Survive

International soldiers of the Donbass militia volunteered to fight Ukrainian neo-Nazism. They’re from Mexico, Columbia, the USA, Serbia, and all over the globe. Locals treat them as heroes, while their homelands consider them criminals and mercenaries. If they return, decades of prison could await them. But they don’t regret it – Donbass has become their home. Unlike international military instructors and mercenaries in the Ukrainian army, foreign volunteers of the Donbass militia have strong motivation. They confront neo-Nazism as their ancestors did. Whatdo they do and how doe they feel about what they see?

«What are they doing? Making a human shield! They hid behind old men! Idiots! Damned Ukraine! It makes me so angry!» Mariupol residents who had to hide in the cellar during Ukrainian shelling share their stories. Over 400,000 people in Mariupol had to go underground because they weren’t allowed outside the city by the Ukrainian units. The film features stories of courage and perseverance people displayed in crisis. For example, a Russian soldier drives under gunfire to distribute humanitarian aid; a volunteer from Texas helps reunite families separated during the evacuation. A courageous OB-GYN helps 25 women give birth during the bombing. Where did they find the courage, and what awaits them?

The Holy Dormition Nikolo-Vasilyevsky Monastery near Ugledar was founded by Donetsk Schema-Archimandrite Zosima. Located right on the frontline, the monastery became a sanctuary for dozens of monks, priests, and civilians from day one. ‘Fortress of Faith’ is a documentary about survival, resilience, courage, and determination. It is a proof that faith can be a beacon in the darkest time, helping people find a way home and to each other.

Spatial and time disorientation, sleep disturbances, and severe anxiety—these are common experiences for people with PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. «The huge scale means they all need psychological help, but not everyone has chosen to seek it out yet,» notes Inna Silenok, the Head of Crisis Counselors' Group, People's Front. She and her colleagues travel to Donbass to offer assistance to those who survived Ukrainian shelling and have lost their closest relatives. Employing internationally recognized techniques for dealing with psychological traumas, the team of psychologists guide people through the challenging process of dealing with their hurting hearts, ultimately easing their burden.

Everyday war correspondents travel to the most dangerous zones of Donbass. Though journalists have no military education, it’s vital to understand how to behave under shelling and be familiar with weapons. In 2014 a reporter, Evgeny Poddubny, went to cover the conflict in Donbass. For Evgeny and his colleagues, reporting the true story is more than just a job. They must be ready to perform their task quickly and with no second chances. Journalists often have to sleep in the streets and take turns guarding each other. They cannot stay at hotels as Ukrainian missiles regularly strike these buildings though they house civilians and journalists. How do war correspondents manage to perform their job in such harsh conditions?

The fate of Julian #Assange will soon be decided, as he prepares to fight for his freedom in a landmark extradition hearing in London. The US wants to get its hands on the #WikiLeaks founder in what the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture called "the collective persecution" by a group of "democratic" states. If convicted, Assange could face decades in a US jail. In April 2019, Julian Assange was dragged out of the Ecuadorian embassy and sent to Belmarsh Prison for breaching his bail terms. Through WikiLeaks, Julian Assange published a trove of classified documents on the powerful elite, including war crimes committed by the military on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and embarrassing details from politicians' emails. The Assange Story pieces together accounts from Assange's friends, family and former colleagues to build up a clearer understanding of the personality and motivation in the man behind what's been called the 'biggest leaks in intelligence history'.