The world premiere of the documentary Special Operation by director Oleksiy Radynski will be held at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). The film, which delves into events in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone during the Russian occupation, will be showcased in the Forum Expanded program, dedicated to experimental and political cinema.
The film was created with the support of The Reckoning Project, an initiative documenting Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine. At its core are events captured by surveillance cameras at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, depicting the station’s seizure, the course of the occupation, and the subsequent retreat of Russian forces. Thanks to the bravery of Chornobyl NPP employees, this footage was preserved and incorporated into a criminal case.
Director Oleksiy Radynski emphasizes:
“Every frame of this film serves as evidence in the case of the unprecedented war crime — the occupation of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. We use this footage not only as the basis for future legal proceedings, but also as a way to rethink documentary filmmaking.”
Producer Lyuba Knorozok highlighted the importance of collaboration between documentary filmmakers and the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine:
“This work serves as a reminder to the global community that war crimes have no statute of limitations.”
The film was created by the Ukrainian film collective Kinotron Group in collaboration with the Public Interest Journalism Lab, the Lithuanian studio Studija Kinema (co-producer — Jurga Kei), with the support of RIBBON International and ESFUF: European Solidarity Fund for Ukrainian Films.
Director Oleksiy Radynski is already known for his works focusing on Russian aggression in Ukraine, including the short film Chernobyl 22. Producer Lyuba Knorozok, who is also a producer with The Reckoning Project, has contributed to numerous films featured at prestigious international festivals.
Comentarios