The Porcelain War documentary, which follows the plight of artists in the war zone of Ukraine, will be shown at the Newport Beach Film Festival in the U.S., said Marta Farion, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) Vice President for North America and Vice President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA).
Support for the film’s screening is provided by the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Los Angeles and comes after the film took the Grand Jury Prize honor at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.
Directed by Slava Leontyev, Porcelain War tells the story of three protagonists: Slava, his wife Anya Stasenko, and their friend Andrii Stefanov, all of whom are artists. Slava and Anya create unique porcelain art, while Andrii is a painter and photographer.
“Amidst the chaos and destruction of the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine, three artists defiantly find inspiration and beauty as they defend their culture and their country,” organizers at the Newport Beach Film Festival said.
Despite facing daily Russian attacks, Stasenko finds strength and purpose through her art, Stefanov risks his life to help his young family flee abroad, and Leontyev takes on the role of firearms instructor for ordinary citizens who have suddenly become soldiers.
“As the war intensifies, Andrey picks up his camera to film their story, and on tiny porcelain figurines, Anya and Slava capture their idyllic past, uncertain present, and hope for the future,” the film’s plot description says.
The screenings will take place on Oct. 20 at 2:30 PM and Oct. 21 at 3:30 PM local time. For more details, please follow the link.
Cover: a screenshot from Porcelain War trailer
