Ukraine
Ukraine: One Year On
It is a year since protests erupted in Ukraine. The events that followed saw the fall of Viktor Yanukovych, the annexation of Crimea and violent clashes breaking out across the east of the country. As the stand off with Russia continues, we will be taking a view of the situation in Ukraine one year on. Will 2015 see an end to the most dangerous conflict to grip Europe since the wars in the former Yugoslavia?
BookNight with Andrey Kurkov
For February’s members’ BookNight we are pleased to welcome acclaimed Ukrainian writer Andrey Kurkov, who will present his recently published book Ukrainian Diaries over an intimate dinner with Frontline Club members.
Screening: All Things Ablaze + Q&A
In November 2013, the protests in Ukraine began peacefully but eventually, after much confusion and chaos, drums, bagpipes and European flags seamlessly turned into bloody resistance. When the first casualties fell on both sides, no matter how black and white it seemed from outside, the line between good and bad blurred. This collective project by Ukrainian filmmakers Oleksandr Techynskyi, Aleksey Solodunov and Dmitry Stoykov, offers a powerful insight into the way the events unfolded in Kiev. This screening is in partnership with Open City Docs Fest and will be followed by a Q&A with director Oleksandr Techynskyi.
Ukraine: a new challenge
By Sally Ashley-Cound On Wednesday 18 June at the Frontline Club, Bridget Kendall, diplomatic correspondent for BBC News, chaired a heated panel discussion on the current situation in Ukraine and the role of local and Russian media in the region.
In the Picture with Anastasia Taylor-Lind: Maidan – Portraits from the Black Square
Anastasia Taylor-Lind’s portraits of ‘fighters’ and ‘mourners’ from Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kiev from February 2014, captured with an air of stillness and reflection, show the individuals involved in, and impacted by, the unrest. She will be joined in conversation by Olivier Laurent, editor of TIME’s LightBox.
Maidan – Portraits from the Black Square will be published in its entirety by GOST Books on Thursday 24 July 2014. Join Taylor-Lind for the official launch and signing on the book at the club from 6:30 PM. For more details, see here.
Vested Interest: In Hock to Oligarchs?
By Elliott Goat Opening the debate organised by Standpoint magazine, which took place at the Frontline Club on May 1, Standpoint Editor Daniel Johnson began by restating the motion: This house believes that Britain is more interested in doing business with Russian Oligarchs than standing up to Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine Crisis: Turning the Page and Shaping the Narrative
Following months of unrest, Ukraine has a new leader. Known as the Chocolate King, Petro Poroshenko is tasked with restoring law and order, and steering the country away from conflict.
As fighting in the east continues, we will be looking at the challenges that lie ahead for Poroshenko and asking how he will unite the country.
Sergii Leshchenko on open access information in Ukraine
By Sally Ashley-Cound On Friday 4 April, Open Access was screened at the Frontline Club. Bringing together the work of five directors – Volodymyr Tykhyy, Serhiy Andrushko, Jeanne Dovhych, Dmytro Konovalov and Dmytro Tiazhlov – Open Access follows the stories of five different people as they attempt to invoke the 2011 Ukraine law on access […]
In Hock to the Oligarchs?
Standpoint magazine brings together a distinguished panel to debate Britain’s response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Screening: Open Access + Q&A
In 2011 the law ‘On Access to Public Information’ was adopted in Ukraine. Open Access brings together five stories of people in different parts of the country trying to invoke the law to access information. Told by five directors, these stories all illustrate the lack of transparency, indifference, dominance of private motifs and lack of responsibility by the country’s leaders. The screening will be followed by a Q&A via Skype with Ukrainian journalist and protagonist Sergii Leshchenko.
First Wednesday: Crisis in Ukraine
By Phoebe Hall As news of the build-up of Russian forces in Crimea dominated the headlines, a distinguished panel convened at the Frontline Club on 5 March for a First Wednesday event examining the current crisis in Ukraine. The insightful discussion, chaired by Paddy O’Connell of BBC 4’s Broadcasting House, largely focused on Russian motivation […]
Opening Frontline Club Romania
On Tuesday 18 February Vaughan Smith will attend the official opening of Frontline Club Bucharest in The Institute Cafe, which will serve as a home for upcoming debates and screenings in Romania. Over the course of three evenings, an impressive and challenging line up of speakers will debate issues ranging from the current situation in Ukraine to the role of social media in journalism. These first events will serve as a taster for future discussions that will take place in Bucharest as part of the Frontline Club’s International Parters programme.
Fortress – Glimpses into Transnistria
By George Symonds On Wednesday 19 June, the Frontline Club audience burst into spontaneous applause to the precision choreography of a Transnistrian military parade. The footage was part of the documentary film Fortress, shown at the preview screening of Open City Docs Fest, supported by the Czech Centre London as part of One World Echoes in London. […]
One World Echoes in London
One World Echoes in London is a series of human rights film screenings supported by by the Czech Centre London. Celebrating the 15th anniversary of One World, Europe´s largest human rights film festival established in Prague in 1998 by the Czech NGO People in Need. This series offers a selection of extraordinary documentary films exploring societies and […]
Screening: Fortress + Q&A
Over 20 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union directors Klára Tasovská and Lukáš Kokeš travel back in time on their visit to the unrecognised Pridnestrovian Moldovian Republic. A separatist region within Moldova with its own passports and stamps, an elected president and a legal system. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Lukáš Kokeš.
Talks between Tehran and Moscow, Obama’s State of the Union, and elections in Ecuador make for another busy international week
By Jasper Wenban-Smith, international editor of ForesightNews. A round up of world news in the week ahead from journalist resource ForesightNews. Monday 11 February Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi is due in Moscow for two days of talks with Russian counterparts, likely to include civil nuclear cooperation as well as the upcoming talks on […]
Screening: Shorts at the Frontline Club
An evening of short documentaries from different parts of the world covering a wide range of topics, Shorts at the Frontline Club will showcase moving, striking and funny stories using different techniques.
Ukraine: From Democracy to Chaos
By Jim Treadway After a riveting portrait of Ukrainian politics in the documentary Ukraine: From Democracy to Chaos, director Jill Emery engaged in a lengthy conversation with Orysia Lutsevych researcher of civil society and democratisation in Ukraine and Georgia at the Russia and Eurasia Programme of Chatham House; and Neil Pattie, former PR adviser to […]
Screening: Ukraine – From Democracy to Chaos + Panel Debate
In Ukraine: From Democracy to Chaos Jill Emery and Jean-Michel Carre explore this complex country, its geopolitical importance in Europe, and its unfinished struggle for democracy.
ForesightNews world briefing: upcoming events 7 – 13 May
A weekly round up of world events from Monday, 7 to Sunday, 13 May from Foresight News By Nicole Hunt Given the ongoing violence and international concern over Syria, it’s hard to believe (‘ridiculous’, even) that parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place on Monday, but President Bashar al Assad has insisted they will go […]
ForesightNews world briefing: upcoming events 10 – 16 October
A weekly round up of world events from Monday, 10 to Sunday, 16 October from ForesightNews By Nicole Hunt The two men charged with the April 2010 murder of South African white supremacist leader Eugene Terre’Blanche go on trial in Ventersdorp on Monday. Chris Mahlangu and an unnamed teenager are accused of killing the leader […]
Ukraine unravels
Just over two years ago it seemed Ukraine was firmly headed on a democratic path after its bloodless “Orange Revolution”. But for the last several months the country has been in political crisis and opposing demonstrators have crowded onto its streets. The crisis has revealed the ugly and deep-seated problems which endanger Ukraine’s very existence […]