The Bright Path

by Iryna Riabenka
  • The Bright Path
  • The Bright Path
  • The Bright Path

    Synopsis

    Eastern Ukraine, May 2014. Part of the Donbas region falls to Russia-backed separatist militants. Ukrainian journalist Stanislav Aseyev reports for various media outlets from Donetsk, his hometown. In May
    2017, he is kidnapped and spends 962 days in detention, mainly in a former cultural center converted into a prison called Izolyatsia – or Isolation. There he starts writing a book describing what is happening in that secret prison being used as a concentration camp.
    The documentary provides an insight into Stanislav's life after the prisoner exchange in December 2019. He finishes his book and finally comes to the I-ZONE cultural center in Kyiv – after the Russia-backed separatist militants seized the territory of Izolyatsia in Donetsk, the Cultural Foundation moved to the capital of Ukraine. Looking around the premises of the cultural center to arrange the future presentation of his book there, Stanislav compares the buildings in Donetsk and Kyiv, and the memories from the pages of his book obtain new features.

    Festivals

    2021
    Docs Without Borders International FF:
    "Outstanding Excellence" in the category Human Spirit
    "Excellence" – Cinematography and Original Score (sub-categories)
    2022
    Best Production – 51st Sehsüchte International FF
    German Human Rights Film Award  – nomination
    North Dakota Human Rights Film Festival  – nomination

    Cast and Crew

    Director

    Iryna Riabenka

    Producer

    Felix Krumme, Iryna Riabenka

    DoP

    Hovhannes Martirosyan

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