Open Access (2013)

The Open Access documentary is an anthology film made up of five separate short documentaries that take place after the Ukrainian Parliament approves a law on "Access to public information." Each of the documentaries follows the actions of one or several civic rights activists as they attempt to change their communities by invoking their new rights to access government information. The 'Mezhihirya' short follows the efforts of two well known Ukrainian reporters and their colleagues to film the presidential residence just outside the capital of Kyiv. Along the way they are met by resistance from national authorities unwilling to reveal what lies beyond its walls. The 'Afghan War Veteran' tells the story of how the war veteran copes with finding an apartment for himself and his family as he does his best to participate in his community. The 'House with Chimeras' centers around the abandoned building the middle of Kyiv that formally housed Murashko, a famous Ukrainian artist. The story follows Alexander Glukhov, who takes up the duty to defend the landmark from local authorities. 'School' follows Alexander Korshak a civil activist and a caring father in his attempts to re-open the recently closed schools in his area, in an effort to provide the local children with an education. The last short: 'Cornered' tells the story of an all-but-abandoned village of Panasivka and one of its residents: Zoya Shulga. The village has become home to only pensioners and is slowly being forgotten by the world, but once public transport stops, Zoya draws the line there and attempts to consolidate efforts in an attempt to save the villagers from complete isolation.