The world premiere of the film Rotation by Ukrainian director Marina Er Horbach took place at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, the Ukrainian Film Academy reported on Facebook.
“The morning after the premiere, other directors in the Displacement project thanked us for deepening their understanding of Ukraine and Ukrainian soldiers. During the war, an image of superhuman individuals hardened to emotional pain is being built. This is understandable — only this way can one strive for victory and find partners. But while watching Rotation, they seemed to experience being in the body of someone just as unaccustomed to death and the trials of war as themselves, as no ordinary person could. That was the essence. And this is my answer to the common question: ‘How do you feel?’” Horbach said.
Rotation was produced under The Displacement Film Fund, initiated by two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett. The world premiere took place on January 30, with Blanchett attending in person.
The programme featured five filmmakers from different countries: Mo Harave from Somalia, Mohammad Rasoulof from Iran, Hasan Kattan from Syria, Shahrbanu Sadat from Afghanistan, and Marina Er Horbach from Ukraine. Each filmmaker received a €100,000 grant to create a film exploring the theme of forced displacement.
Rotation tells the story of a young Ukrainian woman who, after transitioning from civilian life to military service, undergoes a therapeutic hypnosis ritual, seeking inner support in her new reality.
The Ukrainian premiere of the film is scheduled for 2026.
