In his address, Evgeny Afineevsky discusses his documentary Freedom on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom which covers Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and Ukrainian efforts to defend their country. The companion piece to Afineevsky’s Academy Award nominated documentary Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom, his latest work takes a sweeping look at a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine using footage taken during the invasion and exclusive interviews with both those who have fled the conflict as well as those who stayed in Ukraine.

The opening and closing remarks at this event were delivered by Larysa Gerasko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland, and Claire Cronin, Ambassador of the United States to Ireland.

About the Speaker:

Evgeny Afineevsky was born in the Russian city of Kazan when it was part of the former U.S.S.R. As a documentarian and activist, he has directed numerous documentaries such as Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom (2015), Cries from Syria (2017), Francesco (2020) and Freedom on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom (2022) which premiered at the 2022 Venice Film Festival. His works has received nominations for an Oscar, a PGA Award, a Primetime Emmy Award and four News & Documentary Emmy Awards. He has also received a People’s Choice Award for Best Documentary from the Toronto International Film Festival, a Critics’ Choice Documentary Award for Best Director, an Overseas Press Club Award, and a Television Academy Honors award.