WHAT’S UP EXTREMISTS!

WHAT’S UP EXTREMISTS!

Director and Producer: Anastasiia Vedenskaia

Category: Current Affairs, Human Rights, LGBTQ+

Production company: Védavision / France 2025

Language: Russian

Subtitles: English

Length: 52 / 62 minutes.

After Russia banned gender transitions and declared LGBTQ+ people extremists, a wave of mass repression began. The film tells the story of those forced to flee their country to survive. At its core are the desperate attempts of the protagonists to overcome fear, loss, and hostility from both the state and society. This is a story of survival, resilience, and the fight for identity in a world that has rejected them. But will they find salvation beyond their homeland?

read more

Director's statement:

What’s Up, Extremists! is not just a film I directed—it’s a deeply personal project. This is a story about social genocide, the tragedy of individuals rejected by their own society. It’s more than a political or social drama—it’s a story of human dignity, hope, and resilience.
For me, this project is not just a film; it’s a voice for millions whose experiences have long been silenced. My aim was to not only portray the horrors of repression but also to highlight the extraordinary bravery of my protagonists. Their lives are torn between survival and the desperate need to be heard.
My goal is not merely to document events but to make the audience reflect on a fundamental question: what makes us human? I sought to tell the stories of individuals fighting for the right to be themselves in a world where they are deemed “undesirable.” Every moment on screen is a cry for empathy, a plea to those who have the power to bring about change.
This film is about resilience, relentless struggle, and self-acceptance. The pain and complexity of transition, the chaos of survival in an unfamiliar environment, and the quest for identity—these are themes that deeply resonate with me as a filmmaker. I hope this film will open hearts and inspire a call to action for meaningful change.
Anastasiia Vedenskaia

video:
Share:

© JMT FILMS - DISTRIBUTION, COPRODUCTION & WORLD SALES