The Russian Federation, led by Vladimir Putin, has willfully and maliciously violated existing international law, as well as any sense of human decency, by launching an unprovoked war on Ukraine, which includes the purposeful targeting of civilians and their culture. 

Governments, international associations, financial institutions, and private sector business the world over are sanctioning and isolating Russia, Russian businesses, and prominent Russians themselves until the people and their government STOP this illegal war and the senseless killing and destruction in Ukraine.

We call on SXSW, Stateside Theater, Alamo Drafthouse, and Violet Crown Cinema to CANCEL ALL the upcoming screenings, live and online, of “Nika” by Vasilisa Kuzmina and “No Looking Back” by Kirill Sokolov. These films and the firms and people associated therewith are OBSCENELY OFFENSIVE to Ukrainians, here in Texas and the world over.

Art has always remained at the forefront of humanitarian values.  Ukrainians highly value the stance taken by some Russian cultural influencers who have openly condemned the Russian aggression and military action against Ukraine–these artists have NOT taken that stance.

IN FACT, Fyodor Bodnarchuk, the producer of "Nika' DOES have direct ties to Russia's state-run terrorist activities:

• Art Pictures Studio, founded in 1992 by Fedor Bondarchuk and Dmitry Rudovsky, made this film.
• Bondarchuk supported Putin and Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014 (which was the beginning of this illegal invasion) by signing the "Collective appeal to the Russian public of Russian cultural figures in support of the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine and annexation of Crimea” (published on March 11, 2014).
• He is a member of the Supreme Council of the 'United Russia' pro-government political party. In a ‘BBC Russia’ article from 2019 he proudly supports Putin.
• Currently, he remains silent, as other members of their group, including the director Vasilisa Kuzmina.
• Kuzmina directed and produced multiple militaristic propaganda movies funded by the Russian government, including but not limited to “Stalingrad”, “The 9th Company”, and “Attraction”.
• Bodnarchuk is a prominent supporter of Putin and the idea that Ukrainians are part of the Russian nation, which is not only factually WRONG but the foundation from which Russia's terror campaign against Ukraine is based.
• Please find more detailed information via the following links:
  • https://www.bbcrussian.com/russian/features-42027746.amp
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Pictures_Studio
  • https://regnum.ru/amp/2232332
  • https://ukraine.segodnya.ua/ukraine/izvestnyy-rossiyskiy-rezhisser-popal-v-chernyy-spisok-mirotvorca-1071841.html
  • https://lifestyle.segodnya.ua/lifestyle/showbiz/bezrukov-i-bondarchuk-podderzhali-politiku-putina-i-otsoedinenie-kryma-ot-ukrainy-501865.html

These films may not be totally state-created productions, but they exist only because they are allowed by the Russian state, and they are partially funded (directly and/or indirectly) by the Russian state. Any and all proceeds and exposure these films and those associated with these films artists receive contribute to the Russian state, which is openly violating international law, human rights, Ukrainian sovereignty, and killing Ukrainian civilians, including children. 

We support SXSW and these local businesses, but to screen these films while Ukrainians are being slaughtered and the rest of the world, public and private sector, are isolating Russia would be unconscionable. CANCEL THESE SCREENINGS NOW - surely the core values of SXSW and these businesses do NOT support illegal war and indiscriminate killing.

STOP THE WAR! STAND WITH UKRAINE! Only the Russian people can stop the leader THEY elected–citizens of the world, including SXSW and these local businesses, have a human responsibility to HELP!

(See here for a partial list of all the companies ending their ties with Russia.)