In the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, acclaimed French theater director Ariane Mnouchkine journeys to Kyiv to lead an intensive 12-day workshop with Ukrainian actors—professionals, students, and amateurs alike. Set against the backdrop of a nation under siege, this poignant documentary examines the transformative role of art in times of conflict. Through scenes of improvisational performance, intimate conversations, and encounters with the physical and emotional ruins of war, Kyiv Theater: An Island of Hope reveals how theater becomes both a sanctuary and an act of resistance. It is a powerful meditation on creativity, resilience, and the enduring necessity of artistic expression in the face of violence and uncertainty.
The Albertine French Film Festival is organized by the Department of French and Italian at Ohio State and sponsored by The Wexner Center for the Arts and Albertine Cinemathèque, a program of Albertine Foundation and Villa Albertine, with support from the Centre National du Cinema et de l’Image Animée, and the Fonds Culturel Franco-Americain SACEM'.Guest speakers will introduce the films and lead post-screening conversations.
