Mariinka [eng subs] • Fundraiser x Protect Ukraine

In the small town of Mariinka in eastern Ukraine, we follow several young Ukrainians whose lives have been forever shaped by more than a decade of war and conflict in the Donbas. Natasha, a promising boxing prospect, becomes a military nurse. Angela, who lost her parents at a young age, makes ends meet by smuggling goods across the front lines. Meanwhile, the brothers Mark and Ruslan find themselves caught up in a Greek tragedy, as they are on opposite sides of the conflict. Their youngest brother, Daniil, follows the war from a distance, from the safety of his adoptive family in the United States. Mariinka is Pieter-Jan De Pue’s long-awaited second feature film, following his award-winning debut, The Land of the Enlightened . Filmed over a period of ten years on 16mm, Mariinka begins long before the world witnessed the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, after which the city was almost completely destroyed. Through letters, video calls, and charged silences, a poignant story unfolds about connection, national loyalty, and the fault lines where political conflicts tear even family ties apart. With the screening of Mariinka , we raise money for the organization Protect Ukraine. 50% of the ticket proceeds will be donated to them. If you’d like to donate more, there will be QR codes on-site that you can scan to make a donation of your choice. After the film, there will be an in-depth panel with Jaap Scholten and Tommy Wieringa.