A screening of a movie about the Roma Genocide took place in Berlin
Named Voices was the title of a documentary screened in Berlin within the CAFE KYIV 2025 conference. The movie was created using materials from the archives of ARCA Youth Agency for Roma Culture Advocacy and interviews with Roma people provided by the Ukrainian Centre for Holocaust Studies.
The movie is an investigation into the Nazi genocide of Ukrainian Roma people in the 1940s and the modern-day experience of Roma communities against the backdrop of Russia’s present war against Ukraine. The movie was produced back in 2023, within the framework of a project implemented and supported by the Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future )EVZ).
As Nataliia Tomenko, co-chair of AURA Ukrainian Roma Advocacy Alliance and Deputy Director of ARCA Youth Agency for Roma Culture Advocacy, told us, there are two plots in this film.
«This is about the Roma genocide during the Second World War but also about the current war and the participation of Roma people and the Roma community in the defence of their country. It is quite notable that these two plots intertwine. And when the viewer watches the movie, he finds it difficult at times to tell where the present day is and where the past it, as the experience is very much alike», — noted Nataliia Tomenko.
As she mentioned, ARCA is the official partner of the CAFE KYIV 2025 Conference, and she feels the support and solidarity of other ethnic minorities present at this event.
«These are, in particular, Crimean Tatars. We also feel great support from the German authorities. They are interested in supporting Roma initiatives in Ukraine—particularly in view of the fact that Germany is responsible for those horrendous periods of history», - noted Nataliia Tomenko.
She reminded everyone of the fact that the Roma community is the largest ethnic minority in Europe. And if we support this community, then we are in solidarity with all of the ethnic minorities in Europe.
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