SBS acquires HiddenLight Productions’ Ukraine war crimes doc for Aussie debut

The Cranes Call documents human rights abuses in Ukraine

Australian broadcaster SBS has picked up HiddenLight Productions’ Ukraine war crimes documentary The Cranes Call.

The film was produced by the Hilary Rodham Clinton, Chelsea Clinton and Sam Branson-backed HiddenLight Productions, with Australian investigative journalist and documentarian Evan Williams serving as producer and UK-based Laura Warner as director. The project was also supported by Australian philanthropic fund Minderoo Pictures.

The Cranes Call follows a mission to secure accountability for Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Warner embeds with local war crimes investigator Anya Neistat and her team as they track down a group of survivors taking a stand against those accused of war crimes involving rape, torture and murder.

The mission is backed by Amal and George Clooney’s Clooney Foundation for Justice, with Neistat joining forces with Ukrainian local Solomiia Stasiv to document evidence of human rights abuses.

Minderoo Pictures executive director Malinda Wink said: “Minderoo Pictures funds film for impact, and we hope that this film and campaign will inspire Australian legal professionals to support their (Niestat and Stasiv) efforts through the docket process, helping ensure that the voices of victims are heard and perpetrators are held to account.”

The funding support for the documentary aligns with mining magnate Andrew Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation’s financial recovery package commitment to the Ukraine. The philanthropic foundation has donated over A$25m to support a local-led recovery for Ukrainian citizens.

The documentary will premiere in Australia on SBS Om Demand on July 24 and is distributed globally by Sphere Abacus.