At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, actress, and director Angelina Jolie dedicated her speech to the memory of artists who died because of the war. Among them, she mentioned the Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina, who died as a result of a Russian missile attack on Kramatorsk in June 2023.
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In her speech, Jolie emphasised the importance of freedom of speech and the dangers faced by artists in different parts of the world.
‘We know that many artists in the world do not have the freedom and safety to tell their stories. And many have lost their lives — like Fatima Hassona in Gaza, Shaden Gardu in Sudan and Victoria Amelina in Ukraine. We owe a debt of gratitude to all those who risk their lives to share their experiences,’ Jolie said on stage.
The mention of Victoria Amelina was an important gesture of support for Ukrainian artists who continue to create despite the threat of war. She was not only a famous writer, but also a war crimes researcher who documented the testimonies of victims of Russian aggression. Her work made a significant contribution to preserving the truth about the war in Ukraine.
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