BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.,
Aug. 6, 2015 /CNW/ -- Netflix, the
world's leading Internet TV network, will premiere the original
documentary Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom, directed by
Evgeny Afineevsky, on Friday, October 9,
2015 exclusively to Netflix members worldwide.
Chronicling events that unfolded over 93 days in 2013 and 2014,
Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom witnesses the
formation of a new civil rights movement in Ukraine. What started as peaceful student
demonstrations supporting European integration morphed into a
full-fledged violent revolution calling for the resignation of the
nation's president. The film captures the remarkable mobilization
of nearly a million citizens from across the country protesting the
corrupt political regime that utilized extreme force against its
own people to suppress their demands and freedom of expression.
The harrowing documentary is set to make its world premiere at
the 72nd Venice Film Festival in
September.
"Evgeny has assembled a cinematic tribute to the heroism, spirit
and determination of the Ukrainian people," said Lisa Nishimura, Netflix VP of Original
Documentary Programming. "We are honored to provide a global
platform for him to share his powerful narrative."
"While we were filming unfathomably brutal attacks by the police
on unarmed citizens, we weren't thinking about how to get the best
shots, only the importance of showing the ways in which the
movement would forever change the country and the lives of its
participants," said director Evgeny Afineevsky. "We're pleased that
Netflix is enabling us to share the hard truth and shocking reality
of this historical event with the rest of the world."
The Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom filmmakers
investigated the escalating political crisis in Ukraine from directly within the conflict
zone. At the onset of demonstrations, they were there to record the
special forces who were deployed to disperse the crowds, beating
and seriously injuring hundreds of protesters. It was this moment
that ultimately gave rise to mass protests and large-scale civil
unrest in the country. In response, millions of Ukrainians rallied
together to fight against the police state. Through interviews with
protesters, activists, journalists, medical workers, artists and
clergy representing multiple generations, social classes,
nationalities and faiths, including a twelve-year old volunteer,
the film tells the story of a diverse movement that self-organized
towards one common goal, that stood their ground in the midst of
extreme bloodshed, despair and the harshest of conditions.
Winter on Fire: Ukraine's
Fight for Freedom is Evgeny Afineevsky's third feature
documentary. He has produced over ten feature and short films,
including the 2002 adaptation of Crime & Punishment,
starring Vanessa Redgrave, Crispin
Glover, John Hurt and Margot Kidder. He also produced and directed
numerous TV projects. His feature directorial debut,
Oy Vey! My Son is Gay! has garnered numerous awards
at film festivals globally.
The Netflix original documentary Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom is produced by
Netflix, Afineevsky - Tolmor Production, UkrStream.TV and SPN
Production, in association with Passion Pictures, Campbell Grobman
Films and Rock Paper Scissors Entertainment. The film is produced
by Evgeny Afineevsky and Den Tolmor. John
Battsek, Lati Grobman,
Christa Campbell, Lisa Nishimura, Adam Del
Deo, Angus Wall, David Dinerstein, Andrew Ruhemann, Dennis L. Kogod, Nadine
Khapsalis Kogod and Bohdan
Batruch serve as Executive Producers.
About Netflix:
Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) is the world's leading Internet
television network with over 65 million members in over 50
countries enjoying more than 100 million hours of TV shows and
movies per day, including original series, documentaries and
feature films. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime,
anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Members can
play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or
commitments.
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101014/SF81638LOGO
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/netflix-original-documentary-winter-on-fire-ukraines-fight-for-freedom-premieres-october-9-2015-to-netflix-members-globally-300124697.html
SOURCE Netflix, Inc.