Freedom or Death

“Freedom or Death” focuses on the revolutionary events in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2014. The film is told from the point of view of Ukrainian-American filmmaker Damian Kolodiy.

Kolodiy’s voice narrates the film, which focuses on events in Kyiv, starting with the peaceful demonstrations in support of Ukraine signing a free trade agreement with the European Union. The film examines how those peaceful demonstrations escalate into a violent conflict between Ukrainian activists and the Ukrainian government headed by corrupt President Victor Yanukovych. Through on the ground footage and Kolodiy’s voiceover, the film is a chronological and forensic portrait of how a civil uprising in Kyiv has become a hybrid war with Russia that has had global ramifications.

Damian Kolodiy Bio:
Damian Kolodiy is a filmmaker based in New York City. Kolodiy freelances as a cameraman and video editor. He was the Program Director of Kinofest NYC, a film festival showcasing contemporary Ukrainian film in New York. (www.KinofestNYC.com) from 2010-2015. His first feature documentary was on Ukraine’s Orange Revolution titled “The Orange Chronicles”. He also developed a web series focused on the New York City rock n roll scene called NYC ROCKS TV. His first feature film was an experimental sci-fi fantasy filmed titled “ill Generation”. He is a graduate of the Film program at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.