Swiss-based international sales and distribution outfit Lightdox has snapped up world rights to feature documentary Motherland from directors Alexander Mihalkovich and Hanna Badziaka at CPH:DOX, where the film is world premiering in competition.
A Sweden, Ukraine and Norway co-production, the title is produced by Mario Adamson and Ashley Smith of Sisyfos Film Production, and co-produced by Anita Norfolk of Folk Film.
Motherland uses the personal and professional perspectives of Mihalkovich, a former conscript solider, and Badziaka, a journalist, to explore the causes and consequences of the decades-old tradition of “dedovshchina” - violent bullying, torture, and even murder, as a means of control over Belarusian military conscripts.
The documentary will have its North American premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival in May. Motherland was included in the Seattle International Film Festival’s ‘New Works in Progress Forum’ in 2022.
The film was made with the support of The Swedish Film Institute, Eurimages, Western Norway Film Centre, Mediefondet Zefyr, The Fritt Ord Foundation, Bergesenstiftelsen, IDFA Bertha Fund, Renovabis Research Grant, Viewfinder Masters Program, International Media Support (IMS), Baltic to Black Sea Documentary Network (B2B Doc), Docs Up Fund, Fund for Belarus Democracy - German Marshall Fund, Normandy for Peace and Région Normandie and Prague Civil Society Centre.
“We are thrilled to renew collaboration with producers from Sisyfos Film and Folk Film on this strong, timely and urgent film,” said Anna Berthollet, Lightdox Founder and CEO.
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