The Embassy of Estonia and FinnAgora are collaborating to present Heilika Pikkov’s short documentary „What Would You take?“ and the Finnish documentary „Christmas Joy to Ukraine“.
When: 26 February, 6 p.m.
Where: Kino Cafe cinema (Budapest, Szent István krt. 16.)
The screening is part of a series of events called FOCUS ON UKRAINE.
The films will be shown with English and Hungarian subtitles. The free screening can be attented with registration tickets available at the cinema box office from 18 February.
What Would You Take?
(Mille Sina võtaksid?)
2023, EE, 23 min
Rendező / Director: Heilika Pikkov
Producer / Producer: Ülo Pikkov / Silmviburlane
The short documentary tells the stories of 12 people from Ukraine who were suddenly forced to leave their homes, taking only the bare essentials and a cherished belonging that reflects their life. The film is part of an exhibition project by photographer Kaupo Kikkas and British curator Frances Stonor Saunders. In December 2022, they traveled together through Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland to Ukraine. In each country, they met Ukrainian war refugees whom Kaupo photographed, Frances interviewed, and Heilika filmed. A total of 12 powerful stories were captured, resulting in an exhibition, a collection of essays, and a short film.
Christmas Joy to Ukraine
(Jouluiloa Ukrainaan)
2019, FI, 65 min
Director: Juhana Honkonen
Producer: Timo Puustinen / Frozen Flame Pictures
“Christmas Joy to Ukraine” by Juhana Honkonen, was released in 2019 and filmed before the Russian attack on Ukraine in 2022. The film depicts an aid trip from Finland to East Ukraine during Christmas time. The film shows the prelude to the war in 2022 and how the aggression of Russia was ever present in East Ukraine. It also shows how the Ukrainians have kept fighting for their homes and the incredible resilience of the people.
As Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine enters its fifth year in February 2026, sustaining public attention, moral clarity and solidarity is becoming increasingly challenging. The Focus on Ukraine program series responds to this situation by offering perspectives beyond daily news coverage, placing human experience, cultural expression and responsibility at the centre through films, exhibitions, literary events and expert discussions. Taking place in Budapest between 24 February and 6 March 2026, the event is organised for the second time and is the result of a large-scale collaboration between thirteen European cultural institutes and embassies.