Italy to Feature Russian Propaganda Films in Upcoming Screenings

The State Film Agency of Ukraine has condemned the planned screenings of Russian propaganda films scheduled to be shown in various cities across Italy during January and February 2025.

The screenings include "Maidan, the Road to War" ("Maidan, la strada verso la guerra") and "Children of Donbas" ("I bambini del Donbass"), which are being distributed by the pro-Russian organization Donbass Italia, known for promoting other propaganda materials.

The agency expressed concerns that "Maidan, the Road to War," produced by the Russian state propaganda channel Russia Today, raises doubts about its objectivity, while "Children of Donbas" manipulates emotionally charged themes to distort the truth, with both films posing a risk of spreading disinformation about the Revolution of Dignity and the Russian-Ukrainian war.

“Their screening at cultural venues in Italy during the ongoing full-scale war in Ukraine could contribute to disinformation and the manipulation of public opinion,” the agency warned.

The State Film Agency has reached out to Ukraine’s Embassy in Italy, led by Ambassador Yaroslav Melnyk, and other diplomatic representatives, including Andrii Yurash, with a request to prevent these screenings.

The agency also called on the public and international partners to stand against the spread of Russian propaganda materials.

"We thank everyone for supporting Ukraine in the fight against aggression and disinformation," the statement concluded.

Previously, it was reported that the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) has refused to remove Boris Guts's controversial film Deaf Lovers from its program, despite strong objections from Ukraine’s State Film Agency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.