Solidarity with Ukraine on Freedom Defenders‘ Day in Ottawa
The Embassy of Lithuania to Canada invites to commemorate the Freedom Defenders‘ Day by remembering the victims of the bloody events of January 13, 1991 in Vilnius and expressing solidarity with Ukraine and its people who today are bravely defending their and our Freedom. On Sunday, January 15 at 4 pm. the Embassy is organizing a screening of the critically acclaimed documentary “Mariupolis 2”. It will be held at the Ukrainian social hub Café Ukraine in Ottawa (911 Carling Ave).
Register here – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffEscsnlkrGDOBWFYYhYDHLh_iccGs_Tk1bwXL14l_7ETmeQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
About Mariupolis 2: In 2022, Mantas Kvedaravicius went back to Ukraine, Mariupol, at the heart of the war, to be with the people he had met and filmed in 2015. Mantas Kvedaravicius wished to testify what is here and now - as far as possible from the agitation of the media and the politicians. With huge force and sensitivity, Mariupolis 2 depicts life of Ukrainians as it continues amidst the bombing and reveals images that convey both tragedy and hope. MARIUPOLIS 2 won the European Documentary Prize at the European Film Awards in 2022.
Mantas Kvedaravičius (1976-2022) was a Lithuanian-born filmmaker with a degree in social anthropology from Cambridge University. His first documentary film, BARZAKH was selected in numerous festivals and won several awards, including the Amnesty International Prize and the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the Berlinale in 2011. His following two films, MARIUPOLIS (2016) and PARTHENON (2019) were selected at the Berlinale and the Venice International Critics' Week, respectively. Mantas was killed by Russian Forces at the end of March 2022 in Mariupol while documenting Russia’s invasion of Ukrainian territory.
On January 13, 1991, the Soviet Union used military force to overthrow Lithuania's legitimate government, which declared the country's independence on March 11, 1990. The Soviet army attacked Vilnius TV tower, Lithuanian Radio and Television and other strategic infrastructure. After taking over TV tower and Radio and television, tanks moved to the Parliament. Thousands of unarmed Parliament defenders were there. And Soviets stepped back. During January events more than 600 brave Lithuanians were injured, 14 were killed. These ordinary citizens - the Defenders of Freedom - became the symbol of Lithuania’s fight for freedom.
