Video mapping on the Ministry of the Interior building, an Oscar-nominated documentary, or a virtual reality experience? People in Need invites you to upcoming events to highlight one year of war in Ukraine

Video mapping installations on the building of the Ministry of the Interior – on the evenings of February 23, 24, AND 25

People in Need, together with the XLAB creative team, have created two video mapping installations to be cast onto the Ministry of the Interior building from Letná Park. These projections will serve as a reminder of what is happening just a few hundred kilometres from our homeland. The projections create a space for reflection; they also remind us that we must support the Ukrainian people for as long as Russia wages war upon them. #StandWithUkraine 

"We've prepared a light installation because we want to showcase the everyday life of people in the middle of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We want to provide viewers with a space to stop, think and let the motifs and symbols associated with life in war resonate within them. At the same time, we would like to support solidarity with Ukraine and call on people to support the country for as long as necessary," says People in Need's Global Communications Manager, Petr Štefan.

Screening times:

23.2. - 20:00, 21:00, 21:50

24.2. - 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, 21:50

25.2. - 17:45, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, 21:50  

The first light installation will take place on the building of the Ministry of the Interior:

The creative team composed a story based on the thoughts and emotions of people in Ukraine who living every day in the middle of the war that Russia has unleashed against their country. Viewers will see, among other things, what everyday life is like in an occupied country.

The second light installation will take place between the trees:

Using animation created with the help of Unreal Engine, a time loop will show us the misfortune and destruction that people in Ukraine have been dealing with for a year. The audience will have the opportunity to become part of the story.

"We chose Letná Park for the projection because it is a symbolic place for key moments in Czech history and people are used to coming here during important moments of modern Czech history, as well," adds Petr Štefan.

The main combined projection with a musical track will take place at the times indicated above and will be supplemented by an accompanying loop of stories using photographs. This light projection was made possible thanks to financial support from the European Union.

Projection partners are Multilab / T SERVIS / Elseya.

Thursday, 23 Feb: Documentaries and discussions at Světozor cinema and virtual reality in the Langhans Centre

One World in Schools (JSNS): Russian propaganda and its role in the conflict

On Thursday, 23 Feb, the programme will commence with People in Need's educational section, JSNS.cz, at the Světozor cinema (Kino Světozor). JSNS.cz will present a live broadcast of the JSNS Studio, intended primarily for primary and secondary school students. The event's guests will be Josef Pazderka, Editor-in-Chief of Czech Radio Plus and Šimon Pánek, Director of People in Need. Apart from the war in Ukraine itself, the central topic will be Russian propaganda and its role in the conflict. The live debate will be available to watch online, and the pupils and students present will have the opportunity to ask the guests questions throughout.  

More information is available here (in Czech). 

Children - Innocent Victims of War

At 16:00, the programme will continue in the large cinema hall with a screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary A House Made of Splinters, the winning film of last year's One World Documentary Film Festival. The documentary depicts the atmosphere in a Ukrainian orphanage near the front line; here, dozens of children wait for a decision on their fate.  

A debate on the current situation of children in Ukraine and child refugees outside Ukraine will follow the screening. Alyona Budagovska, Head of Communications and Advocacy at People in Need, Ukraine, will give her testimony directly from Ukraine, whilst Masha Volynsky, psychotherapist and Director of Amiga, will present the situation of refugee children in the Czech Republic. Admission to the event is free; however, due to the limited capacity of the cinema hall, reservation is necessary. If you would like to register, please tereza.kurovska@clovekvtisni.cz. The documentary can also be viewed from the comfort of your home through the One World Online website. And thanks to the project Projeítej i ty!, people can organise screenings anywhere and anytime in the Czech Republic (available in Czech). 

More information is also available here. 

Ukraine - One Year Later

Thursday's program at Světozor will conclude with a 19:30 with a screening of the new documentary When Spring Came to Bucha. Filmmakers Mila Teshaieva and Marcus Lenz went to the town of Bucha immediately after its liberation to showcase how the locals dealt with the atrocities and how they continue to be so resilient in the face of such adversity. Once again, this event is free of charge, but registration is required. Please email tereza.kurovska@clovekvtisni.cz to register.

A debate on how the Czech Republic can continue to help the country's post-war reconstruction will follow the screening. Tomáš Kopecny, Governmental Envoy for the Reconstruction of Ukraine; Jan Marian, Special Envoy for Eastern Partnership and Šimon Pánek, Director of People in Need will discuss difficult, but key questions including 

• What do Ukrainians need most now?
• How are the war crimes investigations going?
• Will the perpetrators ever be brought to international justice?
  
  

More information is available here. 

Virtual Reality: When War Comes Home

Starting from Thursday, February 23rd at 13:30, an exhibition by photographer Albert Lores will be displayed at the Langhans Centre (Vodičkova 37). Albert Lores has been capturing material throughout Ukraine since February 24, 2022. Visitors can see the evolution of the situation in Ukraine month by month through the eyes of residents and People in Need staff, all thanks to virtual reality goggles. 

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