Screening of Sergei Parajanov's "SHADOWS OF FORGOTTEN ANCESTORS"

This Saturday Ukrainian Film Club in Estonia / Ukraina kinoklubi Eestis held a screening of Sergei Parajanov's cult Ukrainian film "SHADOWS OF FORGOTTEN ANCESTORS".

The screening was organised by the Association of Ukrainian Organisations as part of the "Culture against War" project founded by the Association "Watch Ukrainian" and with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Estonia!

The film was made in 1965 at the Dovzhenko Film Studio in Kyiv and premiered on 4 September of that year in Kyiv. Sixty years later, audiences at Kino Sõprus in Tallinn saw a restored version of the film, considered technologically the best in the world.

The host of the event and co-founder of the Ukrainian Film Club in Estonia, Inna Hordiienko , opening the screening, told the audience that with this film the club is opening a new chapter and from next year will continue with screenings of "classics of Ukrainian cinema"!

She also wished all viewers a happy upcoming Christmas!

"We are looking forward to a happy Christmas. And of course, by tradition, we make a wish under the Christmas tree. I am sure that 100 per cent of the people in this hall have one single big dream – the end of the war and a long-awaited just peace for Ukraine! Russia, however, continues to shell our peaceful cities and kill civilians. Practically every day the international community records new Russian war crimes against Ukraine. Today we join the global campaign STOP HUMAN SAFARI / SAVE KHERSON in protest against yet another war crime of the aggressor state – Russia's use of small commercial drones to hunt civilians in Ukraine," she said!

The audience was also addressed by civic activist Andriy Yatsenko (originally from Kherson), who regularly visits his home city and knows first-hand what is happening in Kherson, having seen this terror with his own eyes.

He said that the campaign is taking place around the world on 13–14 December and was initiated by American journalist and filmmaker of Ukrainian origin (born in Kherson) Zarina Zabrisky, author of the documentary "Kherson: Human Safari".

Andrii shared how he, his family, friends and all residents of Kherson live through the daily drone hunts over the city.

"The Russian operators controlling the drones can see clearly where they drop bombs, grenades and mines. Our soldiers shoot down more than half of the drones, but you can imagine how many are launched if they keep circling over the city.

They hunt children and the elderly, medical workers and utility workers. Civilians die every day. Yet the people of Kherson are determined to win: fields are cultivated, trucks are loaded with produce, shops, hospitals and pharmacies are open, and after every strike rescuers help people and restore electricity, gas and water. Their faith and daily painstaking work inspire us"

He also set out the campaign's main demands:

• AN IMMEDIATE END TO RUSSIAN DRONE ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS,
• BRINGING THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE CRIMES TO JUSTICE THROUGH INTERNATIONAL COURTS,
• COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE FROM THE STATES OF THE WORLD IN PROTECTING CIVILIANS AND PROVIDING UKRAINE WITH AIR DEFENCE SYSTEMS.

He also stressed that whether the war and Putin are stopped depends on each of us.

"What can each of us do if we are not in Ukraine?

Stay in the circle of those who do "good" deeds. Don't read those who explain why "it's all in vain". Speak with dignity about your people and Ukraine. Thank the world for its support – one personal conversation can change a country's attitude towards us. Work well wherever you are. Spread stories of goodness – tell about volunteers, clergy, doctors, ordinary heroes. Don't take part in black PR and toxicity – when we add fuel to the fire of hatred, we play against ourselves. Support the Ukrainians around you – strong communities make a strong state. Pray and bless Ukraine – prayer lifts the country where systems fail."

Deputy Mayor of Tallinn Riina Solman also came to Kino Sõprus to support the campaign. She expressed sincere support for the Ukrainian people and noted that the use of cheap commercial drones as weapons endangers all European cities. "The war is already in Europe. Estonia and all of Europe must systematically help Ukraine withstand Russian attacks. After that, everything depends on our resistance"

The audience was also addressed by the First Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine in Estonia, Inna Bibyk. She shared her impressions of meeting the heroic people now working in Kherson and cited horrifying facts and figures on civilians killed by Russia's hunting of people in Kherson.

"This tactic of tracking and killing people at close range using civilian-type drones has been documented by the UN and Human Rights Watch. The UN has confirmed that Russia's campaign of drone attacks constitutes war crimes and crimes against humanity. So the STOP HUMAN SAFARI / SAVE KHERSON campaign is a warning to the international community about new dangers and about the need to strengthen legal mechanisms to prevent drone attacks on civilians"

Thank you to all the speakers for taking part in the event and the campaign, thank you for the Christmas songs to Ukrainian song and dance group "Volya", thank you to all partners who provided prizes for the festive lottery, and thank you for help in organising and running the event to Andrii Yatsenko, Allan Teetlaus, Anastasiia Kozachok, Kateryna Chalova, Margaryta Katrenko!

Special thanks to Kino Sõprus for the cooperation and warm welcome!

Many thanks for the wonderful photos to Oleksandr Storozhuk!

Find yourself in the photos and share with friends – link to the photos.