From Donbass to Palestine: the third day of screenings at the RT.Doc Festival at the National Centre RUSSIA

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The third and final day of the 4th International Documentary Film Festival "RT.Doc: Time of Our Heroes" at the National Centre RUSSIA continued to introduce the audience to documentary films shot on the front lines, in hospitals, and behind the lines. The day's programme included films about military doctors, heroes of the Great Patriotic War and the special military operation, foreign volunteers in Donbass, and ordinary people who do not lose faith in the future.

The most anticipated screening of the final day was the premiere of Anastasia Mikhailovskaya's original film "My Hero". It tells the story of the commander of a medical battalion, Roman Bezrukov, who saved the wounded in Mariupol, Volnovakha, and Bakhmut. Thanks to the efforts of his battalion, over 30,000 soldiers returned to the ranks. Roman Bezrukov organised two fully-fledged stationary hospitals in Donetsk and several mobile ones, including an underground reception point for the wounded, equipped with operating theatres — practically on the front line. Roman died while reconnoitering a location for a new hospital. His entire battalion remembers their commander with pride, and the hero's wife — a military doctor — continues her husband's work.

The film "Militia Members. Melody of Memory" by film director Lidia Vasilevskaya (idea and production by Alexei Starikov, produced by RT) tells a story that remained unknown for many years. In the summer of 1941, as the Germans approached Moscow, representatives of the people's militia who had war draft deferments began to gather in the capital: diplomats, writers, scientists, and musicians. During those days, the famous USSR State Brass Orchestra — GOSDUKH — enlisted as volunteers in full to the Sixth Division. Most of its members were killed near Vyazma, holding the defence of Moscow. The feat of the musicians is being pieced together bit by bit — from the memories of their children and sparse documents.

The film "Taymetov. Herald of Victory" by film director Eldar Yuldashev is a tribute to a hero whose name was forgotten for a long time after the war. In May 1945, the Uzbek military pilot Abdusamad Taymetov delivered the German Surrender Act, the Victory Banner, and the standards of the Third Reich from Berlin to Moscow — they became the symbols of the end of a bloody military era.

The film titled "Russian Doctor" by film director Yuri Maltsev tells the fate of Armen Bagdasaryan — a successful dentist who, since the beginning of the special military operation, has been helping the front with humanitarian aid and travelling beyond the front lines himself to treat soldiers. Armen calls himself a "Russian doctor", and for him, this means being part of a large multinational family where friendship, respect, mutual assistance, and shared values are paramount.

VGTRK war correspondent Alexander Rogatkin presented the film "Normandie — Neman: The Return". The film tells the story of a detachment of French volunteers who came to fight in the special military operation zone on Russia's side. As part of the UAV unit under the red Norman flag, they destroyed enemy equipment with German crosses on boards — just like their ancestors 80 years ago. The film answers the question of who these people are, and what made them leave their comfortable lives to risk themselves daily in Donbass.

The short documentary film block featured works by authors from Palestine and Syria. Their heroes find the strength to hope for the future while hostilities rage around them. The films received high praise from film critics and won prizes at international festivals. Among them was "The Sweets Seller" (directed by Aseel Mahed Al-Wadiya, Palestine). This is the story of a teacher from Gaza, Abu Salm, for whom the school was the meaning of life. When educational facilities were destroyed, he became a street vendor selling sweets. Trying to feed himself and his two little daughters, he continued to believe in the power of knowledge and the triumph of humanity.

The 4th International Documentary Film Festival "RT.Doc: Time of Our Heroes" took place at the National Centre RUSSIA from 21 to 23 February. It brought together films by renowned Russian and international documentary filmmakers, roundtables with experts, and a concert programme dedicated to Defender of the Fatherland Day, created jointly with the festival's general partner — the National Centre RUSSIA. The recording of the festival's official closing ceremony and the festive concert is available on the website russia.ru in the "Livestreams and Videos" section.