The Copenhagen-based documentary NGO The Why announced March 3 the launch of its YouTube-located project that will bring “fact-based, reliable information to Russian speakers.”
Fifty carefully selected documentaries dubbed in Russian will be available to view on THE WHY’s YouTube channel over the coming months, says the organisation, focusing on themes directly affecting Russian-speaking citizens. Corruption, war, children’s rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ issues and slavery are just some of the topics the films explore, the organisation adds.
The documentaries will also be donated to independent broadcasters in bordering countries Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova and Mongolia.
“It is absolutely crucial that we bring this information to Russian speakers now, as we watch Ukraine still battling for freedom one year on from the invasion,” says The Why CEO Mette Hoffmann Meyer. “Human-focused documentaries have the power to initiate dialogue and counter the ‘us and them’ narrative currently being perpetuated in Russian media. It can evoke a powerful emotional response from viewers and inform them about issues they never knew existed – especially if they can watch the films in their native language.”
The organisation underlines that “providing the films on YouTube also ensures that the information will get maximum exposure. Russians are some of the most active social media users in Europe, averaging nearly two and a half hours per day according to a 2021 survey. Despite media crackdowns, YouTube is still one of the most popular video platforms in the country with a penetration rate of over 80 percent.”
Each week the organisation will launch 5 documentaries on its main YouTube channel, starting early March with five award-winning films about democracy, diversity and corruption: Putin’s Kiss, Albino Boy in Africa, Leaving the Cult, Please Vote For Me and My Afghanistan.
WHY FREEDOM? at CPH:DOX
Meanwhile, The Why is gearing up for the CPH:DOX pitch of 5-6 doc projects on the subject of Freedom. This follows a global call that generated 120 submissions from 61 countries. According to The Why, Ukraine, Iran, Russia, South Africa, and Nigeria come out on top with the most submissions per country.
“With democracy and individual freedoms under threat, there are increasing differences in our understanding of what freedom is,” the organisation stresses. “WHY FREEDOM? aims to reflect this diversity to a global audience through six human-centred documentaries focusing on different aspects of the freedom struggle – from freedom of information and internet security to war, corruption, and extremist groups rebranding the concept entirely.”
The initiative is led by The Why’s Hoffmann, also a multi-award-winning documentary producer (Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer; India’s Daughter; Taxi to the Dark Side). “We are looking for powerful and insightful stories that are topical and geographically spread. We will read all submissions carefully and expect to commission 5-6 films,” says Hoffmann.
Jonatan Jerichow, award-winning producer and collaborator on the project, adds: “Right now, freedom is very much at stake in so many places in the world. I’m grateful that we have received so many submissions from so many talented filmmakers because there are many stories out there that need to be told – with WHY FREEDOM? we will do just that.”
The team is currently reviewing all 120 proposals before deciding on the line-up for the CPH:DOX pitch.
