This week, Toronto hosts the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival - the largest documentary film festival in North America. This year’s program powerfully reflects the challenges of our times — stories that remind the world of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, of occupation, of resistance, and of the unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people. Among 113 films selected, five titles directly focus on Ukraine, its struggle for freedom, and the exposure of the crimes committed by the Russian aggressor.

A highlight of the special festival program is the Ukrainian film "2000 Meters to Andriivka" (Dir. Mstyslav Chernov). From the 2024 Academy Award winner for "20 Days in Mariupol", this new and haunting film follows a unit of Ukrainian soldiers fighting through mined forests in eastern Ukraine to liberate the village of Andriivka. Chernov doesn't just film war — he documents memory, loss, and resilience. With frontline footage, interviews with barely adult fighters, and reflection on the price of freedom, the film has already received the Best Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival.

Also featured at Hot Docs 2025:

• "Balance" (Dir. Luiza Cocora) – The story of a 12-year-old Ukrainian gymnast who, after fleeing the war, tries to adapt to a new life in Montreal. A short but emotionally powerful film about loss, resilience, and a child’s strength to navigate change.

• "Facing War" (Dir. Tommy Gulliksen) – What does it mean to stand with Ukraine in its hardest hour? With rare behind-the-scenes access to NATO, this film documents Jens Stoltenberg’s final year as Secretary General. His promise to support Ukraine until victory collides with complex global realities. A candid and emotional documentary about diplomacy, unity, and a new future for Europe.

• "Mr. Nobody Against Putin" (Dir. David Borenstein) – Filmed secretly over two years, this gripping story follows a Russian teacher who risks everything to document how his school becomes a tool of dictatorship and propaganda. An inside look at the militarization of Russian youth and the rise of fanaticism in Russian society.

• "Voyage Along the War" (Dir. Antonin Peretjatko) – A Ukrainian-French filmmaker travels to Lviv just one month after the full-scale Russian invasion. Through poetic observations, the film captures the paradoxes of war: fear and hope, fatigue and defiance. War is everywhere — even a spring flower or a toast among friends becomes an act of resistance.

Hot Docs 2025 is yet another powerful voice in support of Ukraine. These films are about truth — truth that the world must see and hear.