Mariinka [ENG SUBS] • Fundraiser x Protect Ukraine

In the small town of Mariinka in eastern Ukraine, we follow several young Ukrainians whose lives have been forever shaped by more than a decade of war and conflict in the Donbas. Natasha, a promising boxing prospect, becomes a military nurse. Angela, who lost her parents at a young age, makes ends meet by smuggling goods across the front lines. Meanwhile, the brothers Mark and Ruslan find themselves caught up in a Greek tragedy, as they are on opposite sides of the conflict. Their youngest brother, Daniil, follows the war from a distance, from the safety of his adoptive family in the United States.

Mariinka is Pieter-Jan De Pue’s long-awaited second feature film, following his award-winning debut, The Land of the Enlightened. Filmed over a period of ten years on 16mm, Mariinka begins long before the world witnessed the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, after which the city was almost completely destroyed. Through letters, video calls, and charged silences, a poignant story unfolds about connection, national loyalty, and the fault lines where political conflicts tear even family ties apart.

With the screening of Mariinka, we raise money for the organization Protect Ukraine. 50% of the ticket proceeds will be donated to them. If you’d like to donate more, there will be QR codes on-site that you can scan to make a donation of your choice. After the film, there will be an in-depth panel with Jaap Scholten and Tommy Wieringa.