Welcome to Chechnya


Welcome to Chechnya by David France
USA 2020, Panorama
© Public Square Films

Welcome to Chechnya by David France
USA 2020, Panorama
© Public Square Films

Welcome to Chechnya by David France
USA 2020, Panorama
© Public Square Films
David France’s film is the first documentary about those who have come together to save lives – both their own and those of others. This film is a raw, emotionally arresting account of the enormous risks and setbacks but also the victories won against an ultra-conservative society and government. Following rescue operations undertaken by several courageous activists, the film is meticulous in unveiling reality in today’s Chechnya as it unfolds, and excels at making palpable the fear and the hope in the fight for survival.
Crew
Director | David France |
Cinematography | Askold Kurov |
Editing | Tyler H. Walk |
Music | Evgueni & Sacha Galperine |
Sound Design | Lora Hirschberg |
Sound | Brian Fish |
Producers | Alice Henty, David France, Askold Kurov, Joy A. Tomchin |
Executive Producers | Neal Baer, Kevin Jennings, Masha Gessen, Jonathan Logan, Jess Search, Lekha Singh, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Alan Getz, Justin Mikita, Stan Tomchin |
Co-Producers | Igor Myakotin, Tyler H. Walk |
World Sales
Submarine Entertainment
Produced by
Public Square Films

David France
The director.
Welcome to Chechnya · Panorama · Feb 26, 2020

Michael Stütz, David France
The Q&A after the film.
Welcome to Chechnya · Panorama · Feb 26, 2020

David Isteev, Olga Baranova, David France, Maxim Lapunov's mother, Maxim Lapunov
The film team at the Photo Call.
Welcome to Chechnya · Panorama · Feb 26, 2020

David France, Michael Stütz
The director and the section head engaged in conversation.
Welcome to Chechnya · Panorama · Feb 26, 2020

Anke Engelke, Maryam Zaree, David France, Sebastian Schipper
The jury of the Amnesty International Film Award and the winning director (second from right).
Welcome to Chechnya · Panorama · Prizes of the Independent Juries · Feb 29, 2020

David France
The director portrays in his documentary the work of activists Olga Baranova, Maxim Lapunov and David Isteev, to whom the Teddy Activist Award is dedicated.
Welcome to Chechnya · Panorama · Prizes of the Independent Juries · Feb 28, 2020

Group photo
The winners at the award ceremony of the 34th TEDDY AWARDS.
Playback. Ensayo de una despedida · Welcome to Chechnya · Futur Drei · Rizi · Berlinale Shorts · Panorama · Competition · Prizes of the Independent Juries · Feb 28, 2020

Michael Stütz, Knut Elstermann, Askold Kurov, Martina Zöllner
The cinematographer of the winning film (second from right) accepts the Panorama Audience Award in the category Documentary Film.
Welcome to Chechnya · Panorama · Prizes of the Independent Juries · Mar 01, 2020

Askold Kurov
The cinematographer of the documentary that has been awarded with the Panorama Audience Award.
Welcome to Chechnya · Panorama · Prizes of the Independent Juries · Mar 01, 2020
Alice Henty, Askold Kurov, Olga Baranova, Maxim Lapunov, David Isteev, David France
Welcome to Chechnya
Panorama · Press Conference · Feb 26, 2020
David France

The filmmaker, non-fiction author and investigative journalist was born in Michigan, USA in 1959. His directing debut, How to Survive a Plague, a documentary about the beginning of the HIV epidemic and the activist work undertaken by Act Up, was released in 2012 to great critical acclaim. Alongside numerous other awards, in 2013 the film was nominated for an Oscar. In 2016, he published the eponymous book which also won awards including the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. His journalistic work has inspired other films, such as Frank Pierson’s TV movie Soldier’s Girl.
Filmography
2012 How to Survive a Plague; documentary 2017 The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson; documentary 2020 Welcome to Chechnya; documentary, Panorama
Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2020