Julia Loktev: Counterinformation

Julia Loktev films an emerging generation of independent journalists opposed to the Russian regime. When she meets them, they are already under dire threat from the regime and, one after the other, designated as “foreign agents”. Yet, they want to stay, work, not flee and, above all, not remain silent. Spoken and written words are their arms, their youth and conviction are their strength. This intense desire to speak, to analyse, to explain but also comment on their situation with humour is what Julia Loktev films every day, phone in hand, as a frantic crossing from one situation to another, in the urgency and uncertainty of their life. When the war against Ukraine breaks out, the tension mounts and gradually, for most of them, the only choice is to leave the country. “The world you are about to see no longer exists” warns Julia Loktev at the beginning of the film.