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MY SISTERS

The short documentary film "My Sisters" is a sharp, exciting, important and socially significant statement by a young Ukrainian director Anastasia Agafonova about the terrible and tragic phenomenon of CNPC (conflict-related sexual violence) during the war of Russia against Ukraine.

This film tells about the terrible examples of CNPC in Ukraine, which most often occur on the lines of combat (in places where civilians could not / did not have time to leave), as well as in Ukrainian cities temporarily occupied by the Russian army. The main speaker of the film, Lyudmila Huseynova (Ukrainian human rights activist, former prisoner of the Russian regime), tells from her own example how exactly the Russian military and representatives of the Russian special services treat civilians in cities that Russian forces were able to capture. Namely: about the inhumane conditions of detention of women of different ages, about psychological and physical violence, torture and in some cases - murders that occur in a Russian prison.

The film calls on a peaceful and free European society to help free Ukrainian women from Russian captivity.

*"Numo Sisters" is a list of women who are in captivity of the Russian Federation. Some of the presented persons have been held in inhuman conditions for almost 10 years. The list is compiled by the civil association "Sema Ukrainе", which consists of women who have experienced sexual violence during the war in Ukraine.

  • Anastasiya Agafonova
    Director
  • Dr. Denis Mukwege Fundation
    Producer
  • Lyudmila Huseynova
    Key Cast
    "Ludmila"
    main character
  • Fedir Dunebabin
    Key Cast
    "Fedir"
    second speaker
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    25 minutes 2 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 2, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    3,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Ukraine
  • Country of Filming:
    Ukraine
  • Language:
    Ukrainian
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:09
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Anastasiya Agafonova

Anastasia Agafonova is a professional actress, director, performer and civil activist. She was born in Severodonetsk, Luhansk region, Ukraine. Later, she moved to the city of Luhansk, where she began her creative path studying at a theater school, as well as playing in theatrical productions in local cultural centers. After the start of the anti-terrorist operation of Ukraine against the separatists supported by the Kremlin regime in 2014, she moved and entered the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts. She graduated from the university in 2019 in the direction of theater and film actress.

After training, she began working in Ukrainian film production, starring in TV series, films and advertising. One of her notable works at the moment is the role of administrator Khristya in the TV series "Female Doctor. New Life" season 2-3 2024-2025 show year.

In addition to filming in TV series, Anastasia is also involved in theater and performance. She created her own creative performance group "#Actor`sForFuture", together with which she created a series of performances on the topic of the release of political and civilians from captivity in Russia. The performances had a wide resonance in the media.

Anastasia also shot a social art video on the topic of conflict-related sexual violence committed by Russian soldiers against Ukrainian women. The video was shown at human rights sites at the UN in New York, Belgium, and also in Kyiv.

In 2024, Anastasia Agafonova will debut with her documentary short film "My Sisters!" on the topic of the phenomenon of the SRSV in Ukraine.

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Director Statement

For me, this work is an important message from Ukraine to the international community. We want you to feel and understand all the horror that Ukrainian women experience while in captivity in Russia. We demand that the international community consolidate in the fight for women's rights, and we also demand support in the release of all women who are forcibly held in Russian prisons. Thousands of Ukrainian women experience physical, psychological and sexual violence daily from Russian special services and military structures. Unthinkable bitterness and pain overcomes me, realizing how difficult it is to achieve justice for all these women. But we cannot give up. That's what this film is about for me.