The Cinematheque

“[Alisa Kovalenko is] one of the most direct and astute observers and first-person witnesses of what her country has been going through … Over and above anything else, [Traces] is about the protagonists healing and regaining agency and dignity as women and human beings.”

Vladan Petkovic, Cineuropa

Traces shines a light on Ukrainian women who, after surviving conflict-related sexual violence and torture during the Russian war of aggression, refuse to remain silent. Through the journey of Iryna Dovhan, a former captive turned activist who documents testimonies of affected women in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine, the film weaves a portrait of a collective trauma while opening space for hope. Iryna gathers other survivors into a circle of courage and care. Together, they transform their pain into a force for truth, justice, and mutual support. More than a record of war crimes, Traces is a testament to resilience and the solidarity of women standing side by side. —Berlinale

In Ukrainian with English subtitles

Panorama Audience Award
Berlinale 2026