The 2023 Taiwan International Human Rights Festival in Taipei opened with the Ukrainian documentary film "We Won't Fade Away" by director Alisa Kovalenko.
The festival, organized by the National Human Rights Museum of Taiwan, began on September 23rd. This year's theme for the festival is "War-Torn." The organizers aim to promote a deeper understanding of human rights issues and provide a space for reflecting on the ongoing violence happening worldwide. With the support of the Ukrainian Institute and Eurimages, the film will be screened in Taiwanese cinemas in the coming months.
Taiwanese director Juan Min-chuan, Ukrainian director Alisa Kovalenko, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Taiwan Sue Wang, and the senior advisor to the President of the country Yao Chia-wen were present at the opening of the Taiwan International Human Rights Film Festival.
"We Won't Fade Away" is a film produced through a collaboration between Ukraine, France, Poland, and the USA. It was created with the support of the State Agency of Ukraine for Cinema, the Polish Film Institute, and IDFA Bertha Fund - Classic Post-production.
The creators of the film describe it as a "gentle and emotional multi-portrait of the young generation from the front-line towns in eastern Ukraine." The film's heroes are five teenagers who live in front-line towns near the former conflict line in Luhansk region until February 2022. They protest against the gray routine, aspire to follow their dreams, seek freedom and change, and unexpectedly receive an offer to embark on a journey to the Himalayas.
As part of the Odesa International Film Festival, the film was recognized as the best documentary film in the field of human rights protection. The director of this film, Alisa Kovalenko, also received a special award from the film festival for "Best Directorial Work."
