Putin had been preparing his country for the big war long before it started. Since 2012, a series of repressive laws were passed by the Government labelling everyone who publicly disagreed with the official narrative as "foreign agent", a traitor of Russia. In these circumstances, a group of independent Russian media and activists with two Nobel Peace Prize winners Dmitriy Muratov of "Novaya gazeta", and NGO "Memorial" among them are trying to resist and continue their work. Right after the invasion, another series of repressive laws is passed and overnight their work becomes virtually impossible. The journalists and activists are threatened with long prison sentences and forced to make difficult moral choices in the midst of total war censorship: should they stay or leave the country, should they go to jail or save their team, should they adapt to the new reality or stay true to their principals and close their media? Shot during one decisive year, before and after the invasion, the film portrays the last defenders of democracy in Russia and gives a glimpse of hope for another future.

The authors began to shoot this film even before Russia started the war against Ukraine. They wanted to talk about people who, in the situation of “freedom shutdown” in Russia, continue to do their good and decent work. However, life (and Vladimir Putin) made serious adjustments to the script. Russia sent troops to Ukraine, journalism was actually banned in the country, human rights protection was destroyed. Many of the protagonists of the film faced a terrible choice, how to continue to live and work when your life and your work in Russia are now criminal by definition? The authors continued to shoot the end of the broadcast of "Echo" and the defeat of "Dozhd", searches in the "Memorial" and the termination of the release of "Novaya". Birth of "Novaya Gazeta. Europe”, the renewed first broadcasts of “Dozhd”, the honest and dangerous work of many colleagues from abroad. This film is a unique historical document, a cast of tragedy. This film is about the trouble that happened to Russia and was filmed in real time. Chronicle of a diving country.

Novaya Gazeta was founded in 1993. This is one of the first independent publications in post-Soviet Russia. And one of the last. Novaya constantly publishes high-profile investigations. He has more than 60 prestigious awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, the UNESCO Prize, three nominations for the Nobel Prize. The film "Novaya" tells about the life of the editorial office in difficult times.

Editing director - Kirill Sakharnov

Oleg Sentsov is a Ukrainian filmmaker, Euromaidan activist and native of Crimea. After the Russian annexation of Crimea, he became an active opponent of the occupation. In May 2014 he was arrested by the Russian security service, charged with planned terrorist attacks and transported to Moscow. After over a year in custody, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, despite the fact that the testimonies were given under duress and evidence was insufficient. Sentsov never pled guilty. Director Askold Kurov follows the progress of the trial and the attempts of Oleg’s family, friends and lawyers to save him from prison. The notorious case inspired protests around the world: the European Film Academy and many renowned filmmakers such as Pedro Almodovar, Wim Wenders, Agnieszka Holland, Ken Loach, Johnny Depp and others called for Oleg’s release. Kurov’s investigation gradually reveals an absurd and frightening Kafkaesque story about how anyone can become a victim of a ruthless state machine.

A documentary about LGBT teenagers who want to prove to society that they exist.

At the peak of perestroika, in 1987, in the village of Gorki, where Lenin spent his last years, after a long construction period, the last and most grandiose museum of the Leader was opened. Soon after the opening, there was a change in ideology, and the flow of pilgrims gradually dried up. Despite this, the museum is still in operation and management is looking for ways to attract visitors. The curators of the museum, loyal to Lenin, are doing their best to resist the advance of commercialization. The film "Leninland" tells about the modern life of this amazing museum-reserve and its employees.

Ten young directors spent two months with the camera. The result is chronicles of the protest winter 2011-2012. The film is about those who make a political agenda, and about those who are not satisfied with such an agenda. People, faces, conversations, rallies, victories and defeats on the eve of the presidential election. Live camera, live characters.

To return to the starting point, it is enough to drive a few stations on the train. The most terrible of childhood memories will appear if you cross the threshold. The hero of the film, 20-year-old Dima, who grew up in an orphanage, one day decided to find his real family. Movie version with English subtitles: https://dafilms.com/film/8306-september-25