14 Episodes

A new film about the Russian-Chechen conflict - 14 Episodes, by Murad Mazaev - has been released. The web site of UNPO, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation, notes that

the film consists of material from the first and second Russian-Chechen wars. Showing its bitterness, violence, cruelty and sorrow the film bears testimony to the scale and severity of the war. In eight minutes, Chechen resistance fighters, a bus carrying women and children destroyed by Russian aircraft, mad people after bombardments, and blood and tears are shown. Torn metal, the bare face of death, and helplessness, reflected in 14 episodes.

The footage used came from Ukrainian journalist Tarak Protsuk, who was killed in Baghdad on April 8, 2003, as well as from editor Islam Saidayev, and the materials of Adam Tepsurkayev, who was killed in Alkhan-Kala, Chechnya by so-called 'death squads' for his active and truthful coverage of the events in the Chechen-Russian war. Some pictures from this film have been taken from the film “Things I remember” 2000 L&L Studio Filmowe Krakow, Poland.

The film won the Amnesty International Prize at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in the Netherlands. Besides at IDFA the film has already participated in IFF Locarno (Switzerland), CIDF Chicago (USA), IDFM, München (Germany), DM, Madrid and TekFestivale, Rome.

Murad Mazaev was born in 1977 in Grozny, Chechen Republic of Ichkerya. In 1999 he graduated from Chechen State University, philosophical faculty. In 2003 he graduated from Georgia State University of Theatre and Cinema.