Porcelain War

Amidst the chaos and destruction of the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine, three artists defiantly find inspiration and beauty as they defend their culture and their country. In a war waged by professional soldiers against ordinary civilians, Slava Leontyev, Anya Stasenko and Andrey Stefanov choose to stay  behind, armed with their art, their cameras, and, for the first time in their lives, their guns. Despite daily shelling, Anya finds resistance and purpose in her art, Andrey takes the dangerous journey to get his young family to safety abroad, and Slava becomes a weapons instructor for ordinary people who have become unlikely soldiers. As the war intensifies, Andrey picks up his camera to film their story, and on tiny porcelain figurines, Anya and Slava capture their idyllic past, uncertain present and hope for the future. 

Co-directed by Leontyev and Brendan Bellomo, with extraordinary footage from first-time cinematographer Stefanov, Porcelain War embodies the passion and fight that only an artist can put back into the world when it’s crumbling around them.

836M Fest‘s inaugural program features two powerful films—Porcelain War and Prime Minister—curated by Annie Roney, founder and CEO of ROCO Films.

836M is an arts organization presenting concept-driven exhibitions and programming that feature living artists developing and sharing works-in-progress, both within the gallery space and throughout San Francisco. In addition to these exhibitions, 836M offers a range of free programs including a concert series, an ephemeral mural initiative, and a documentary series.

Visit: https://836m.org/