03/03/2025 - The film by Maciej Ślesicki and Filip Hillesland has screened in cinemas worldwide as a part of a global solidarity initiative commemorating the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine

People by Maciej Ślesicki and Filip Hillesland (© Jan Lemiech)

Maciej Ślesicki and Filip Hillesland’s war drama People has secured several theatrical distribution deals, expanding its reach across multiple international territories. AN Holding has picked up theatrical rights for North America, while Magnetes Pictures has acquired distribution rights for Ireland, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Iceland. In Poland, the film is distributed by Mówi Serwis. 

A portmanteau drama, People explores the war in Ukraine through the experiences of five Ukrainian women from different generations, depicting their struggle for survival amid the conflict’s devastation. “Despite my previous intention not to direct any more films, I was driven by the sheer rage and helplessness I felt after witnessing the atrocities in Ukraine. This is a film that needed to be made. It is based on true events, illustrating the absurdity and cruelty of war through the eyes of civilians,” explained co-director Maciej Ślesicki.

The film has been picked by the global screening initiative Third Anniversary of Solidarity with Ukraine running until 5 March, marking the third anniversary of the ongoing war in Ukraine. This commemorative event, co-financed by the Warsaw Film School and the Polish Film Institute, is screening People in 36 cities across 33 countries including Senegal, Hong Kong, the Philippines, the USA, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Thailand in addition to the European territories of Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Finland, Switzerland, Iceland, Bulgaria, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and others. 

"We’re immensely proud to showcase the Third Anniversary of Solidarity with Ukraine as the very first film event of its kind to commemorate the war in Ukraine on such a broad, global scale. Our mission is to remind the world that the war in Ukraine is very much still ongoing and claiming the lives of innocent and defenceless people. We needed to show that in the face of war’s tragedy, all of us are left vulnerable. This unique event is a crucial reminder of this important message and a way to show Ukrainians that we stand firmly with them," noted the event organiser Artur Zaborski.

People was produced by the Warsaw Film School and co-produced by Heliograf and Aeroplan. The Polish Film Institute supported the film.