The Russian House invites you to the Documentary Film Festival: a program of recent independent documentary films  from Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. Come watch the films on the big screen and  in their original languages with English subtitles. Stay for a discussion.  Free and open to the public.  Psychology 105.

APRIL 20

TALKING WITH THE ANCESTORS. PART 1: INTRODUCTION  (Dir. ALINA ZHERDEVA, KATY LARKIN, 2020)– 6:30PM 
This film explores the present and the past of the Altai people living in the Karakov Valley (Republic of Altai, Russia). The authors ride from one village to another and talk with locals about Altai, ancestors, the Soviet times, and  the unshakable rules influencing their lives. In  Russian and Altai with English subtitles. 

THEY ALSO DREAMED (Dir. ALEKSAND FEDOROV, 2020)– 8PM 
This is an incredibly beautiful film that shows the stories of women from different districts of Central Dagestan (Russia). The film portrays  doctor Aishat Magomedova, who founded the Charity Hospital for Women in Makhachkala in the 1990s. In Russian with English subtitles. 

APRIL 21

GOGOLDOC (Dir. ALISA PAVLOVSKAYA, 2018) – 5:30PM 
This magnificent film gives a chance to look behind the scenes of the grandiose GOGOLFEST festival first organized in 2007 in Kyiv (Ukraine). Life is not easy for innovators in arts. In  Ukrainian and Russian with English subtitles.

FACE THE MUSIC (Dir. ATERINA SUVOROVA, 2019) – 6:50PM 
This documentary features the Kazakh pop band Ninety One. Looking bright, musicians from Ninety One  are very popular among Kazakh-speaking teenagers; their popularity caused controversy in Kazakhstan and led to street protests and pressure from the authorities. In Kazakh and Russian with English subtitles.

AWAKENING (Dir. MAXIM ERUZHENETS, MARINA BREZHNEVA, 2021) – 8:15PM 
A  poetic and tender film about the Upsala Circus (Russia) that helps poor and homeless children  with social adaptation. The viewers find themselves in an open and honest dialogue with the heroes. In Russian with English subtitles.