Winner of the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

Pasha Talankin is a beloved, popular primary school teacher in the small Russian town of Karabash. When Russia invades Ukraine, his life takes a dangerous turn. Suddenly responsible for promoting state propaganda at his school, Pasha begins secretly filming how the regime infiltrates everyday life: the rise of nationalism, militarised youth groups, and the recruitment of students for war.

As his recordings pile up and the danger intensifies, Pasha transforms from teacher into international whistleblower, risking everything to expose the system and planning his own escape. Co-directed with filmmaker David Borenstein, this Sundance prize-winning documentary is a gripping portrait of resistance, revealing the human cost of Putin’s regime and the extraordinary courage it takes to defy it.

Contains strong themes and mature content.

Accompanying Short: End Pointe

Director: Lesley Pinder | Year: 2025 | Rating: Unclassified 15+ | Runtime: 14 mins Country: Australia Genre: Comedy, Dystopian | Language: English

In a future ravaged by climate collapse, five women trapped in a scout hall rehearse for a ballet as simmering tensions erupt into survival struggles. They realise it’s not just the outside world they must survive, but each other.

Doors Open: 2:30 pm | Screening Starts: 3:00 pm