Traces
Six Ukrainian women are turning their testimonies of sexual violence into a voice of resistance.
The film shines a light on Ukrainian women who, after surviving conflict-related sexual violence and torture during the Russian war of aggression, refuse to remain silent.
Through the journey of Iryna Dovhan, a former captive turned activist who documents testimonies of affected women in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine, the film weaves a portrait of a collective trauma while opening space for hope. Iryna gathers other survivors into a circle of courage and care. Together, they transform their pain into a force for truth, justice and mutual support. More than a record of war crimes, “Traces” is a testament to resilience and the solidarity of women standing side by side.
The film premiered in the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival and has been selected as Ukraine’s entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
Biography
Alisa Kovalenko (1987) is a Ukrainian award-winning filmmaker. She was born and grew up in Zaporizhia, southeastern Ukraine. Alisa studied documentary at the Karpenko-Kary university, the most renowned film school in Ukraine, and at the Andrzej Wajda School of film directing in Warsaw, Poland. Her debut feature-length documentary "Alisa in Warland", a personal diary through revolution and war in Ukraine, premiered at IDFA Amsterdam 2015 in the First-appearance competition. "Home Games", a social drama following a young female soccer player, screened first at Sheffield Doc/Fest 2018, at IDFA again and in over 120 festivals. "Home Games" was the first Ukrainian creative documentary acquired by Netflix in Europe in 2020. After the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Alisa joined a volunteer unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), fighting four months in the trenches before returning to finish her latest film about the Donbas teenage generation. "We Will Not Fade Away" had its world premiere in competition at the Berlinale 2023. Alisa received the award for best director of the international competition at One World 2023 in Prague and "We Will Not Fade Away" received the Silver Eye Award 2023 of the best Central and Eastern European documentary 2023. Alisa’s upcoming project "Frontline", produced by the Academy 2023 nominated producer Monica Hellström ("A House Made of Splinters"; "Flee"), is supported by Chicken & Egg Pictures. Alisa has been a member of the European Film Academy (EFA) since 2018.
Filmography:
Valik/Selected: Sister Zo (2014), Alisa in Warland (2015), Home Games (2018), Ми не згаснемо (We Will Not Fade Away, 2023)
Biography
Marysia Nikitiuk studied at the Taras Shevchenko National University and the Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema and Television University, both in Kiev. She has worked as a screenwriter since 2012 and began directing her own films in 2014. Her first full-length film "When the Trees Fall" (2017) was selected of film festivals around the world including to the Black Nights Film Festival. It was nominated for the Ukrainian Film Academy Awards in 10 categories. She also won the Discovery of the Year award at Ukrainian Film Critics' Awards.
Filmography
Filmography
Koly padayut dereva (Kui puud langevad, PÖFF 2018), Lucky Girl (2022)
Screenings
