Welcome to Chechnya Set to Bow on HBO

HBO Documentary Films has acquired North American television and streaming rights for the documentary Welcome to Chechnya, from Academy Award-nominated director David France, ahead of its world premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.

This documentary shadows a group of brave activists risking their lives to confront the ongoing anti-LGBTQ persecution in the repressive and closed Russian republic of Chechnya. With unfettered access and a commitment to protecting anonymity, this documentary exposes these underreported atrocities, while highlighting an extraordinary group of heroic people confronting crushing brutality. It will debut in June 2020 on HBO.

In Chechnya, gay and transgender citizens are targeted as part of a deadly “cleansing” campaign. This revealing film chronicles a group of LGBTQ activists as they work undercover and at great personal danger to rescue the victims of this aggression. Through a succession of safe houses and a global underground network of collaborators, the LGBTQ advocates provide victims temporary safety and urgent visa assistance, because fleeing Russia is their only chance for survival.

“I am thrilled to have partnered with HBO to help shed light on this ongoing humanitarian crisis,” said France. “Welcome to Chechnya needed a distributor that is fearless and believes in the power of social justice filmmaking.”