Olga Zhurba's film "Outside", created with the support of Ukrainian State Film Agency, received the main award of the Human Rights Film Festival Berlin - The Willy Brandt Documentary Film Award for Freedom and Human Rights.
The Willy Brandt Documentary Award for Freedom and Human Rights honors Willy Brandt's achievements as Federal Chancellor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. It supports outstanding filmmakers whose work exemplifies Brandt's values ​​of freedom, justice and solidarity. The award is presented by the Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt Foundation in cooperation with the Berlin Human Rights Film Festival.
"Outside" is Olga Zhurba's full-length documentary debut, on which she worked with cameraman Volodymyr Usyk. The film tells the story of Roma, who ends up in the front lines of the Maidan uprising during the 2014 revolution in Ukraine and suddenly becomes the face of the revolution. Five years later, Roma is back on the streets. His future seems decided. In telephone conversations with director Olha Zhurba, he ponders the question: can one ever escape one’s childhood?
“Outside brings a literal misfit into the mainstream – and into our hearts. He does this with a great cinematic performance. Director Olha Zhurba takes us on an incredible personal journey of her protagonist Roma – an orphan living outside of society. The film builds up a gripping emotionality that makes you hope for rescue right up to the last minute,†said Wolfram Hoppenstedt, Managing Director of the Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt Foundation, in the laudatory speech.
The film was co-produced by three countries: Ukraine (Moon Man film company), the Netherlands (Tangerine Tree) and Denmark (Final Cut for Real).
The Human Rights Film Festival Berlin is initiated by the humanitarian organization Action Against Hunger and has been held annually since 2018. The festival focuses on powerful stories from all over the world about the current state of human rights.
