Evgeny AFINEEVSKY: “People all over the world are still learning the Maidan unity”

The coauthors of this film (see review “Ukrainian struggle for freedom (an Israeli’s view)” in The Day’s No. 45 of August 18, 2015) have received a US Television Academy Honors award. About six million people throughout the world have seen this Netflix-produced movie, while international film festivals have conferred various prizes on this work (in particular, it was nominated for an Oscar).

The Television Academy Honors Crystal Globe is a special award for culturally and socially significant cine- and TV works which the Academy members believe “inspire and motivate for changes.” Among the winners of this award are Oprah Winfrey’s talk shows, serials The Newsroom, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, etc.

The prize was handed to the film director Evgeny Afineevsky (USA) in early June in Los Angeles. Last week he flew to Kyiv to hand over the award to the Ukrainian part of the team.

After the ceremony, Mr. Afineevsky answered The Day’s questions.

Evgeny, what goals did you, as a filmmaker, set when you worked on Winter on Fire?

“What struck me was unity on the Maidan. There were absolutely different groups of people – both young and old – there. This was the first time I saw that people of all ethnicities could be together and respect one another, that churches could open the door to unbelieving students, set up hospitals, and give outside people refuge for the night. This uniqueness is very important for me because the world has become disunited now. I live in the United States, but I can’t call that country really united, for the states are not together – we are very much alienated. So, the message of my art is that unity can win. All of us set the goal of explaining the Maidan’s unique example. People all over the world are still learning the unity that was there. Another thing that struck me was that people are a force, a state.”

As far as I know, your new film is on Syria. Could you say a few words about this work?

“I’d like to share a story which the world, unfortunately, does not know. Like in Ukraine, there was also a revolution in Syria. Everything was peaceful there at first, but then some 12-13-year-old children were maimed for anti-governmental graffiti. What also resembled the events in Ukraine was the beginning of the war and intervention of foreign forces, including Russia which bombards Aleppo, not to mention the mass-scale use of chemical weapons.”

What did you see in Aleppo?

“You know, they’ve adopted your practice of burning tires. Aleppo is covered with a dark cloud formed by the smoke of the tires that were set on fire. This helps ward off air strikes, at least partly, for, whatever Russia may say, aircraft also bomb schools and hospitals. I saw this, and it is terrible. What is left for Syrian children to do? Those who run for their rescue may die in the sea. Those who stay behind may be killed by Russian bombs. They are trying to survive.

“The film consists of four parts about the revolution, the civil war, the foreign intrusion-prone groupings, and the problem of civilians’ escape. This little-known truth must be revealed to the world. For Europe and other countries can only see refugees. But Syrians are fleeing not for being poor but for having a limited choice: to die under the bombs, in al-Assad’s prisons, or in the hands of ISIS. Ninety nine percent of those I spoke to would like to come back home, to Syria.”

Finally, let’s get back to Winter on Fire. What was the real contribution of the film’s Ukrainian coauthors?

“To tell the truth, I managed to make it only thanks to having such a resource as Ukrainians. I am happy that I can share this award with them. Making the film, I could call anybody in the Kyiv team, and they would send the footage I lacked, while editing and post-production guys would bring this into action. My sincere thanks to them! It was a post-Maidan front line of sorts. It is not only our team, but also the whole country that deserves this prize. This means that Ukraine does have cinema and the Ukrainian film industry is in no way worse than the much-hyped Hollywood.”