The 23rd edition of CPH:DOX, Copenhagen's main documentary film festival, will open with Mariinka, a new film by Belgian director Pieter-Jan De Pue. The movie makes its world premiere at the opening gala in Copenhagen's concert hall on March 11, kicking off the event that runs through March 22. This choice highlights a story from Ukraine's war zone at a time when such tales draw global eyes.
Background
CPH:DOX has built a name over more than two decades as a key spot for documentaries from around the world. Held each spring in Copenhagen, it brings filmmakers, viewers, and experts together to screen films that tackle real-life issues. Past editions have shown works on everything from climate change to personal struggles in far-off places. Organizers pick the opening film to set the tone for the full lineup, often choosing something timely and powerful.
Pieter-Jan De Pue comes to this with experience in tough stories. The Belgian filmmaker has worked on projects that mix strong visuals with deep human tales. His past films have played at other festivals, earning notice for their raw take on hard topics. Mariinka marks his latest feature-length documentary, shot over years in a place few can reach safely.
The story centers on eastern Ukraine, where the Russian invasion since 2022 has wrecked towns and split families. Marinka, the city in the title, sits in Donetsk, a frontline area hit hard by shelling and fighting. Reports from the ground show it mostly destroyed, with few people left amid the ruins. Films like this one capture what cameras catch in such spots: empty streets, bombed homes, and people trying to hold on.
De Pue spent close to ten years shaping this project, starting before the full invasion but pushing forward as events unfolded. He filmed on 16mm, an old-school format that gives a gritty feel to the footage. Production involved teams from Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, showing how wide interest in Ukraine stories has grown.
Key Details
Mariinka follows four brothers who lost their parents early in life. War scatters them across the chaos of eastern Ukraine. As they grow up, each faces choices that shape who they become. They meet other victims of the conflict—people displaced, injured, or searching for lost ones. These meetings reveal more about their own paths and the hard trade-offs survival demands.
Over time, the brothers' lives pull in different directions. One joins the Ukrainian army to fight back. Another ends up on the Russian side, maybe through force, circumstance, or divided loyalties. The film tracks how war turns family bonds into something strained and distant. It runs about 120 minutes and sits in post-production now, with teams still seeking funds to finish editing and sound.
Filming in a War Zone
Shooting happened amid real danger. Crews worked in Marinka and nearby areas when access allowed. The 16mm film stock adds texture, catching dust, shadows, and faces in a way digital might miss. De Pue and his team gained trust with locals, filming quiet moments between blasts. This approach lets the brothers' stories stand out without heavy narration.
The gala premiere takes place in Copenhagen's main concert hall, a grand spot that holds thousands. Festival-goers will see the film first, followed by talks with De Pue and others involved. Tickets go on sale soon, with the full program announcement set for early February.
"This film shows how war takes brothers and puts them against each other, but their shared past keeps pulling them back." – Pieter-Jan De Pue
What This Means
Opening CPH:DOX with Mariinka puts Ukraine's ongoing war front and center for film fans and industry watchers. The festival draws buyers, distributors, and programmers who decide what documentaries reach wider audiences. A strong debut here could lead to deals that bring the film to theaters, streaming, or other events later in 2026.
For De Pue, this spot boosts his profile. His choice of subject matches a wave of Ukraine-focused films that have won awards and praise. Other works, like those on police rescues in Marinka or sieges in nearby cities, have shown how documentaries keep the story alive years into the conflict. Mariinka adds a family angle, making the abstract personal.
The timing fits as Europe and the world still grapple with the invasion's fallout. Copenhagen, neutral but supportive of Ukraine, hosts this as a call to see beyond headlines. Viewers leave understanding more about divided lives in a torn land. Festival organizers expect packed houses, with side events on war reporting and film in conflict zones.
Broader effects ripple out. Films like this shape views on the war, press for aid, or spark talks on peace. For the brothers in the story, if identified, exposure might bring support or closure. CPH:DOX runs 12 days, screening over 200 films, but Mariinka sets the stage. Attendees from dozens of countries will carry its message home.
Ukraine stories keep coming because the fight does. Marinka's ruins stand as one example among many frontline towns. De Pue's work joins a line of docs that record what happens when armies clash over homes. As editing wraps, eyes turn to fall releases or more festival slots. For now, Copenhagen gets first look.
