„Kazakhstan: Russian colonialism“ and „The Prigozhin Papers“ and „Where Russia Ends“

Kazakhstan: Russian colonialism

Film screening in english

Many people do not think of Russia as a colonial power. In the Russian Federation "internationalism" is used more than "colonialism". Do the nations and countries which formed part of Russia's empire, the Soviet empire or still form part of Russia's territory think of themselves as colonies? Kazakhstan is a prime example. It was first colonised by Russia before the First World War. Now, after 33 years of independence, they are trying to restore their national language. Kazakhs now form a majority in their own country, but there are still millions of Russians there and the Russian language is in widespread use. However, some Russian Kazakhstanis claim they suffer discrimination? What did former President Nursultan Nazarbayev do to reassert Kazakh nationhood? Should the Kazakh language be written in Cyrillic or Latin script? In the context of the Russia-Ukraine war, are Kazakhs afraid of a Russian invasion? This film discusses Kazakhstan's nomadic past, it proud history of animal husbandry, connected to the domestication of the horse. Can they return to these times after Soviet occupation?

Filmmaker: Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW)

Where Russia Ends

In the late 1980s, a team of Ukrainian filmmakers undertook several film expeditions to remote areas of Siberia. Their forgotten film rolls were rediscovered in Kyiv in 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This fascinating archive is the starting point for a cinematic essay that addresses Russian imperialism, the exploitation of raw materials, environmental destruction, and the ongoing oppression and extermination of indigenous peoples in the remote areas of Siberia.

Documentary by Oleksiy Radynski, Ukraine, 2023 

The Prigozhin Papers

In French with English subtitles

An exclusive investigation into the Russian paramilitary organisation Wagner, headed by oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin. 2,500 documents were leaked from Prigozhin’s servers by anti-Putin hackers, shedding light on this secretive group of mercenaries, a key element in the war in Ukraine.

Production: CAPA PRESS
Producer: Alexandra Jousset
Translation: Manfred Walser / Boulevard des productions