Sex-Selective Abortions in Armenia, Moldova’s Healthcare System, Infertility in Georgia, and More Explored at CPH:DOX

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This week, eight significant film productions hailing from Eastern Europe were showcased prominently at CPH:Forum, which serves as the professional hub for the international documentary film festival CPH:DOX held in Copenhagen.

Filmmakers who are new to the scene in countries like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine presented their movies to professionals from organizations such as Arte, IDFA, and the Whickers Fund.

This six-month training program, spearheaded by IMS (International Media Support) along with CPH:DOX, EAVE, and the Danish Film School, reached its conclusion. The goal of this collaborative initiative was to empower underrepresented filmmakers from our region by offering them access to global market opportunities.

This year’s choices delve into topics such as war, national character, male dominance, and activism, with funding varying from approximately €92,000 ($99,000) to around €329,000 ($356,000).

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This year’s selections examine themes including war, national identity, patriarchy, and activism. Funding for these projects ranges from €92,000 ($99,000) to €329,000 ($356,000).

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Our 2021 picks focus on issues like war, national character, male dominance, and activism. Budgets for these projects will be between €92,000 ($99,000) and €329,000 ($356,000).

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The topics covered in our 2021 choices are war, national identity, patriarchy, and activism. Funding for these projects will range from €92,000 to €329,000.

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Our picks for this year investigate themes such as war, national character, male dominance, and activism. The budgets for these projects are between €92,000 ($99,000) and €329,000 ($356,000).

Over the coming days, you’ll have individual meetings scheduled with key figures from the industry following your presentations.

EbMaster addressed the teams in Copenhagen, leaving out certain projects because of their confidentiality.

“‘Leave Easy Come Back Safe’: Exploring Belarusian Identity Through Two Artists” by Sasha Kulak and Masha Maroz delves into Belarusian identity using two young artists, one who has left the country and another still residing within it. Simultaneously, it captures the rich cultural heritage of the secluded Polesia region.

The movie narrates the story of three main characters: a conventional beekeeper, a spiritual healer, and a clergyman trying to restore an old, neglected church. It includes historical footage from as early as the 1930s.

Producer Julia Shaginurova shared with EbMaster that our movie aims to both capture and safeguard the distinctive customs and heritage of the area, while also encouraging self-reflection on our cultural and national identity. Our goal is to introduce this culturally rich but lesser-known region to both international and domestic audiences.

The song “My Name Is Enough” by Ani Grigoryan and Marina Arzumanova delves into the issue of sex-selective abortions in a secluded Armenian village. The central character, Ashkhen, is anxiously awaiting the outcome of an ultrasound which will decide her unborn child’s destiny, as nearby villagers resort to age-old folklore to guess the baby’s gender.

Producer Ani Ordyan muses, ‘I can’t help but wonder: ‘What if I had been one of those girls?'” The documentary weaves together tales from various women throughout different eras, revealing the societal constraints that lead to unsafe and illegal abortions.

The work titled “Missing in Action” (Ukraine) by Marharyta Melnychuk and Kateryna Holovko revolves around the character of Natalia, a previous border guard who is on a mission to locate her absent brother, a battlefield medic who vanished in Donetsk in 2023. As she cares for her brother’s daughters and elderly mother, Natalia accepts a position away from home that offers financial security.

Driven by the desire to discover her purpose, she embarks on a journey to obtain a master’s degree in psychology. With this newfound knowledge, she dedicates herself to aiding those who are seeking lost family members.

Over 60,000 individuals – some civilians, others soldiers – are unaccounted for in Ukraine. This number equates to the entire populace of a town. Producer Aliona Kachkan shared Natalia’s tale, which is merely one among countless others.

In my perspective, I’m all for supporting “Import/Export MD” (Moldova), a powerful documentary by Max T. Ciorbă, skillfully produced by Sergiu Scobioala of Realitatea Film. This compelling piece provides an insightful look into Moldova’s strained healthcare system, where dedicated doctors, faced with meager wages, are compelled to seek better prospects overseas.

The film masterfully weaves together narratives of both doctors and patients, offering a profound and empathetic portrayal of their collective struggles. Moreover, it introduces us to an intriguing group of doctors-turned-comedians who cleverly employ humor to underscore the absurdities inherent in the system.

According to Ciorbă, we aim to create a movie that enables doctors to share their experiences, and provides insights into the hardships confronted by both medical professionals and patients within our nation.

“The Whispers of Womanhood” (Georgia) by Rati Tsiteladze, produced by Olga Slusareva, is a documentary that focuses on the sister of the director, Dea, who has been dealing with infertility for over a decade in Georgia – a country where a woman’s value is often tied to her role as a mother.

The movie portrays Dea’s deeply emotional and artistic odyssey that involves medical treatments, age-old customs, and the tragic loss of her newborn due to medical error. When Dea contemplates adoption, a disagreement arises with her husband over traditional beliefs, causing tension. In search of comfort, she connects with other women grappling with similar hardships. As she covertly delves into IVF in defiance of the Church’s stance, her journey transitions from striving for motherhood to a quest for personal growth and self-understanding.

Producer Olga Slusareva stated, “By showcasing Dea’s unvarnished truth, we strive to shatter the silence surrounding this issue and provide a platform for countless women who endure in silence. This movie is more than just an examination of infertility; it delves into human nature, personal identity, sorrow, and societal expectations.

The 2023 presentation at CPH:Forum of Tsiteladze and Slusareva’s previous documentary, titled “A Song Without Home,” which follows the journey of a transgender woman seeking a fresh start in Austria after years of confinement by her parents in Georgia, is scheduled for release this year.

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“Tsiteladze and Slusareva’s 2023 CPH:Forum-presented documentary ‘A Song Without Home,’ about a transgender woman escaping a life of confinement by her parents in Georgia to start anew in Austria, will be released later this year.

In “Entr’actes” (Ukraine/Belgium), directed by Yuriy Shylov, we follow the charismatic 73-year-old Olena as she guides an enthusiastic group of senior citizens in an amateur theater troupe, all while navigating through wartime.

Even amidst relentless bombings and deteriorating health, she pens a play inspired by her own life events and her son’s battlefield experiences. Under the tutelage of budding director Serhii, the troupe rehearses for an amateur theater event, which may well be their swan song performance.

Shylov remarked, “The movie embodies a touch of irony.” He explained, “For the characters in it, laughter serves as a means to cope with and counteract the harshness of violence.

For the first time, Alice Burgin, who assumed the position of head of industry at Visions du Réel – a prominent Swiss documentary festival last year, was struck by the Change pitches: “This lineup underscores the urgency that numerous filmmakers are grappling with, as they strive to share impactful and vital stories in conditions not always favorable for their voices to be heard,” she expressed.

Maybe this proposal could provide these initiatives an alternative means of funding that aligns with European values, and simultaneously emphasize the significance of preserving regional narratives.

CPH:Forum runs in Copenhagen until March 27.

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2025-03-25 23:47