"Often, when films focus on war crimes of any kind, culture is forgotten," points out Tomasz Grzywaczewski, a war journalist, documentary filmmaker and author of multiple non-fiction books that focus on Central and Eastern Europe.

Since February 2022, Russia's offensive against Ukraine has waged on, in a bid to erase Ukrainian culture and heritage from the history books. Of the many Ukrainians defending the nation, Grzywaczewski wanted to spotlight the courage of those working to protect Ukraine's cultural artefacts and architecture in his latest film, Erase the Nation.

"Erase the Nation doesn't just capture the destruction of war," he says. "This is the story of Ukrainian culture and a testament to its enduring power. It reveals the resilience and determination of individuals from the world of culture who are fighting to protect it from deliberate destruction. We also pay tribute to the artists who have perished in the conflict, who now will never again compose new songs, direct new films or craft new poetry - a long-term cultural loss that will be felt in Ukraine for generations."

As part of its world premiere tour that has already included screenings in Stockholm, New York, Seattle and Kuala Lumpur, Erase the Nation will screen at Spazju Kreattiv on 15 December, followed by a Q&A session with Grzywaczewski. Considering Malta's own rich history and unique culture, he believes the film's local audience will relate to the plight of the Ukrainian cultural community. "People in Malta understand how important culture and history are to the national identity, so I believe that Ukraine's efforts to protect its own culture will especially strike a chord here in Malta," he highlights.

This latest cut of Erase the Nation builds upon a shorter, 30-minute version of the film released around the invasion's first anniversary. As the war continued, Grzywaczewski realised that an updated version might continue to raise international awareness of the depth of the devastation. "We spent a year travelling to and from Ukraine from November 2022, to add to that first cut of the film," he explains. "People need to know that this war is impacting the entire country - there are no safe places in Ukraine. And still, there are these brave souls in museums, libraries, churches and archaeological sites, all risking their lives daily to protect them from destruction."

To show the realities of war, Grzywaczewski and the production team from Inbornmedia likewise risked the frontline during filming. "Logistically, filming Erase the Nation was challenging on a number of levels," he reveals. "Ukraine is a very large country, so we travelled long distances. We were also shooting in a hostile situation, often with heavy shelling close by. Nevertheless, our cameraman captured extraordinary shots of the frontline, close to Russian forces."

Adding to his own extensive experience of filming in warzones, Grzywaczewski holds poignant memories from the shoot in Ukraine. "Actor and musician Mykhailo Savytskyi played the Ukrainian national anthem on the violin in the trenches, in one of the most heated parts of the frontline. He now finds himself more frequently wielding a drone and rifle than a violin, sadly, so this was an extremely moving moment," he recalls. "We also met Tetiana Shishova from Chernihiv, in a library demolished in a Russian air strike. Her own father was killed in March 2022, as he stood in the grocery line. Although it must be traumatic to share her story, she told us she needed to speak out. The pure courage of people like Tetiana will certainly stay with me."

Supported by the Polish National Institute of Cultural Heritage, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Polish Support Centre for Culture in Ukraine, Erase the Nation reminds us of the magnitude of the cultural loss, adds Grzywaczewski: "Before the war, Ukraine boasted over 5000 museums and around 170,000 monuments, including seven UNESCO World Heritage sites. Already, there are more than 800 cases of destruction - a number that rises daily. I hope that this film will raise awareness about what is happening in Ukraine and help support those defending its culture from aggressors who seek to rewrite the nation's history. We cannot let them fight alone."

Erase the Nation will screen at Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta, on 15 December 2023 from 6pm until around 7.30pm. A Q&A session will follow the film. Tickets are free, although booking in advance is required at www.kreattivita.org.