On February 10, 2025, the Health, Medicine & Society Program, in partnership with Aspen Institute Kyiv, hosted a special screening of the 2025 Academy Award-nominated documentary, Porcelain War. The docufilm closely follows two artists-turned-soldiers as they craft beautiful porcelain masterpieces while fighting for their homeland’s freedom, demonstrating the powerful impact of the arts on health and well-being, including emotional resilience. As an art form itself, the film also inspires emotional resilience to all those who watch and cheer on the unyielding strength of the Ukrainian people.

Ahead of the film, the audience heard from Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Oksana Markarova. Following the screening, Slava Leontyev, Porcelain War film director and participant, was interviewed and entertained questions from the audience on the transformative power of art and its role in wartime. Porcelain War is playing in select theatres. Please visit https://www.porcelainwar.com/tickets to find local participating theatres.

Photo by Shannon Finney