SONGS OF SLOW BURNING EARTH

Songs of Slow Burning Earth follows the lives of Ukrainians during the first two years of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The film captures the everyday resilience and deep personal losses of a country living through war. Through intimate scenes with civilians, children, and aid workers, it reveals how ordinary people endure extraordinary circumstances in the shadow of ongoing violence.

THE FILMMAKER

Olha Zhurba is a Ukrainian film director, editor and screenwriter. Her short fiction film DAD’S SNEAKERS (2021) premiered at the Locarno FF and later won awards at many international festivals. DAD’S SNEAKERS was a candidate for a nomination at the European Film Awards 2022. OUTSIDE (2022) is her debut documentary, which premiered at CPH:DOX and HOT DOCS and won the Willy Brandt award at the Human Rights Film Festival Berlin and later the Japan Prize Award of Honor. She was also the editor of the festival hits and award-winning documentary films THIS RAIN WILL NEVER STOP (2021) and HOME GAMES (2018).

AWARDS AND FESTIVALS

Best Film – Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, US
Jury Award for Best Film – One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, Czech Republic
Best Film – Riga International Film Festival, Latvia
Best of Fest – International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)
Venice International Film Festival, Italy
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, US
Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival CPH:DOX, Denmark
Verzio International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, Hungary
Museum of the Moving Image – First Look Festival, US
ACT Human Rights Film Festival, USA
Black Movie Film Festival, Switzerland