"NIEB" is honest and one of the most personal works of Valentina Khodnevich where she undertakes a poignant mission to shed light on the ongoing war in Ukraine and the hardship faced by those living under an almost authoritarian regime in Russia. The film serves as a powerful metaphor, drawing parallels between relationship of a person and their oppressive government , skilfully depicted through an abusive romantic relationship between a young girl and a DJ. Other the past nearly two years, Ukraine has been suffering from the war and assaults from the Russian army, while Russian government and mass media have been portraying these actions as a special operation, masking acts of war crimes. Simultaneously, , the once close bond between the two nations has deteriorated into animosity, causing fractures in familial ties and friendships. As some Ukrainians were compelled to flee their homeland in order to secure their safety, similarly, Russians who opposed the war were faced with the same dilemma. A significant number of them lost touch with their loved ones, businesses, friends, and even their very sense of identity, as passports and national allegiances came into question. This experience forced many Russians to confront their own country, reevaluate long-held beliefs, and reassess their connection to their nation, forever marking this grim aspect of the war. Through "NIEB," Valentina Khodnevich aims to portray the sensation of initially being a part of something beautiful and great, only to eventually remove the rose-tinted glasses and realise that the convictions one once held were flawed. In many ways, being Russian in the present moment somehow mirrors an abusive relationship, where one is enamoured and blinded by affection, thereby unable to objectively assess the reality of the situation.

Valentina Khodnevich is a young female director and writer from Russia based in London. She specialises in experimental media, narrative storytelling and choreography, with a focus on exploring human behaviour, questioning social norms and morals.