The Kyiv Cinema House hosted the premiere of Dissident, a historical drama directed by Stanislav Gurenko and Andrii Alforov. The event brought together prominent figures from Ukraine’s cultural, business and media communities, alongside Soviet-era dissidents. The film opens nationwide on September 3.

Dissident explores one of the defining chapters of 20th-century Ukrainian history — the story of individuals who stood up to the Soviet system. At the center of the film is a former Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) fighter who survives the brutality of Soviet prison camps yet continues his fight for freedom. Through his personal journey, the filmmakers portray an entire generation of Ukrainians forced to choose between silence and resistance.

“While working on Dissident, our primary goal was to capture the broader landscape of the Sixtiers resistance movement, a chapter that until now has remained largely unexplored and underrepresented in Ukrainian cinema,” said the film’s executive producer, Oleksandr Omelianov.

For director Andrii Alforov, Dissident also serves as a historical primer.

“For some viewers, Dissident may become a kind of ‘Wikipedia,’ shedding light on the blank spots in our country’s history. The film offers an answer to how you live when you don’t fit into society,” the director said.

Production spanned several years, with its final stage unfolding after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“It was an extremely difficult and intense process. We were completing the film’s editing during the full-scale war,” co-producer Andrii Osipov said.

That reality has given the story new resonance. Its themes of personal freedom, resistance to an oppressive system and the cost of individual choice are now viewed through the experience of a country fighting for the right to determine its own future.

The premiere at the Kyiv Cinema House was hosted by Hennadii Popenko and Liudmyla LADOSHKO. Guests included Oleksandr Pryshchepa, Viktoriia Romashko, Daria Tvoronovych, Oleksa Hladushevskyi, Pianoбой, Akhtem Seitablaiev, Oleksandr Kobzar, Denys Tarasov, Serhii Asovskyi, Viacheslav Solomka and Hossein Mirzagholi.

A charity auction became one of the evening’s central events. Dissidents Larysa Lokhvytska, Leonid Miliavskyi, Inna Naboka and Mykhailo Mykhalko shared personal stories of resistance to the Soviet system and signed the Wall of Freedom art piece, whose visual concept was created by philanthropist Marie Green.

The piece was purchased by Olena Brynza, with all proceeds going directly, without deductions, to support the military unit where a member of the film’s team currently serves.

Freedom, the central theme of Dissident, also shaped the conversation around the premiere. Vitalii Raievskyi, co-owner of RAIYEVSKIY dental clinic, spoke from the Cinema House stage about the value of freedom and expressed his gratitude to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Plastic surgeon and PhD in Medical Sciences Varsik Bykadorova spoke about personal freedom as the courage to choose one’s own path, embrace oneself and resist externally imposed stereotypes.

Ukraine’s business community also played a significant role in supporting the premiere. Media exposure was backed by advertising holding Megapolis+ and electronics retailer MOYO. Premium beauty brand Beehive Cosmetics served as the event’s beauty partner, while Avalon artesian water joined as its hydration partner.

Organizers gave special recognition to two partners that suffered losses in Russian attacks shortly before the premiere yet continued to support the project. A strike on a Loven warehouse destroyed 800 tons of baked goods, while bookstore Readeat lost its entire inventory. Despite the damage, both companies remained committed to the project — a telling example of the resilience of Ukrainian businesses and their continued investment in cultural initiatives during wartime.

Dissident made its world premiere at the 42nd Torino Film Festival, where it received a Jury Special Mention. The film was produced by JOYFILMS with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, the Ukrainian State Film Agency, Odesa Film Studio, Dovzhenko Film Studios and AR Content.

The film is directed by Stanislav Gurenko and Andrii Alforov, with Oleksandr Omelianov serving as executive producer. The principal cast includes Oleksandr Pryshchepa, Viktoriia Romashko, Dima Yaroshenko and Vasyl Mazur. Kinomania is the film’s official distributor.

Dissident opens in theaters across Ukraine on September 3.