Impact Days Catalogue
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By Zhanna Maksymenko-Dovhych and Zhanna Maksymenko-Dovhych

Peace For Nina

Мир для Ніни
IMPACT DAYS

Peace for Nina is a survivor’s tale following a Ukrainian woman whose life has been beset by war and the loss of her most beloved ones. Nina`s son Ihor Branovytsky, soldier of the Ukrainian Army, is captured and summarily executed by Russian mercenaries, while defending Donetsk airport in 2015. As a way to cope with her son’s death, Nina collects evidence of his extrajudicial execution in captivity. She wants to ensure that what happened to her son is recognised as a war crime. She finds solace in building friendships with other mothers who have lost sons and daughters to the war. Only they can fully understand her pain.  Will Nina ever truly find peace in herself and with the world around her? Especially, when her worst fears have come true and the war has now affected all Ukrainians?

Sections : Impact Days, Impact Days
Country : Ukraine
Original languages : Ukrainian, Russian
Directors
Zhanna Maksymenko-Dovhych
Zhanna Maksymenko-Dovhych (Ukraine)
Producers
Zhanna Maksymenko-Dovhych
Zhanna Maksymenko-Dovhych (Ukraine)
Knorozok Lyuba (Ukraine)
Dea Gjinovci (Switzerland)
Completion
2024
Impact Statement
War crimes that are not named as such give rise to greater evil and greater wars. We need to open a discussion on the necessary changes to international legislation on the punishment of war crimes in such a way that it would allow for the recognition of war criminals not only those physically present at trials, but also in absentia, as well as those perpetrators who are no longer alive. The documentary Peace for Nina can be a trigger for such discussions at the high international level. We feel that it is important to show this film in front of international institutions that can trigger investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated during the Russian-Ukrainian War since 2014, among them the European Court of Human Rights, the International Criminal Court, the Council of Europe, the United Nations.
Nina's story highlights unaddressed Russian war crimes since 2014, emphasizing the need for legal action and victims' rights. It also aims to deepen understanding of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and advocate for the ratification of important international legal statutes in Ukraine.
Impact Goals
  1. To use Nina's story to highlight the fact that war crimes committed by Russia since 2014, from the very beginning of the war to the full-scale invasion, remain unaddressed; war crimes should be named war crimes.
  2. Empower Legal Action by equipping prosecutors and citizen evidence collectors with key resources and support, and by centering victims rights in the political discourse around war crimes and crimes against humanity prosecutions.
  3. Increase knowledge of the Russian-Ukrainian war and its wider background.
  4. Think more critically about how war crimes are prosecuted and understand what is required for a successful prosecution.
  5. To promote the ratification of the Rome statute and Law about war criminals in Ukraine.
Impact Strategy
  • To raise funds for the impact campaign.
  • To make Nina the voice of mothers whose children were killed in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
  • To organise screenings of the film for international officials to keep the focus on the war crimes committed by Russians in Ukraine and to seek justice and pressure on Russia.
  • To use the film as a tool to influence the Ukrainian parliament and president to ratify the Rome Statute and the Law on War Criminals in Ukraine.
  • Share content about the film and impact campaign on social media connecting with others and contributing to a larger-scale campaign.
  • Call on national / regional / international decision-makers to enact policies and legislation which effectively support the victims of the conflict to live safely and address any psychological trauma.
Contact
Primary contacts
Zhanna Maksymenko-Dovhych (Ukraine): Jeanne.dovhych@gmail.com
Knorozok Lyuba (Ukraine): lyubzja.knorozok@gmail.com
Dea Gjinovci (Switzerland): dea.gjinovci@gmail.com
Participants present at the Impact Days
Dea Gjinovci (Switzerland)
Zhanna Maksymenko-Dovhych (Ukraine)
Knorozok Lyuba (Ukraine)

Distribution and sales
LightDox

Impact
Think Film Impact
STORYBOARD COLLECTIVE
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SUPPORT (IMS)
Swiss Films

Organisations
CENTER FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES (Ukraine)

Funders and Philantropists
Ukrainian Film State Agency
Deutsche Film Academy (Filmboost program)
Perspective Fund
Prague Civil Society center
TRIAL International

Distribution and sales
LightDox

Impact
Think Film Impact
STORYBOARD COLLECTIVE
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SUPPORT (IMS)
Swiss Films

Organisations
CENTER FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES (Ukraine)

Funders and Philantropists
Ukrainian Film State Agency
Deutsche Film Academy (Filmboost program)
Perspective Fund
Prague Civil Society center
TRIAL International