Field of Vision Debuts Anders Hammer's Ukraine Documentary on Independence Day
Field of Vision premiered Anders Hammer's documentary short "When It Started to Burn" on 24 August 2026, the 35th anniversary of Ukrainian Independence Day — the date in 1991 when Ukraine declared its freedom from a collapsing Soviet Union. The film, a 36-minute portrait of civilian resistance during Russia's full-scale invasion, went live on the Field of Vision platform on Monday. (Deadline, Field of Vision)
Hammer travelled to Kyiv shortly after Russia launched its invasion in February 2022. Four years of filming followed, producing a documentary that centres on Kseniia, a Kyiv resident who sets up a volunteer centre while her children seek refuge abroad. The film traces her efforts and those of other civilians working to support resistance against Russian aggression. (Deadline)
"When It Started to Burn" is the third entry in a trilogy of short films in which Hammer examines conflict and civilian resilience across the globe. His 2021 film "Do Not Split," a chronicle of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, earned an Academy Award nomination. "The Takeover" (2023) focused on the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan following the US military withdrawal. (Deadline)
Hammer's body of work extends well beyond that trilogy. For Norway's investigative journalism programme NRK Brennpunkt he has directed nine documentaries. His "Escape from Syria: Rania's Odyssey," published by The Guardian, won a Webby Award and a One World Media Award for Best Refugee Reporting in 2018. He also directed the Field of Vision documentary series "Our Allies," set in Syria and Iraq. (Deadline)
Field of Vision, founded in 2015, is a filmmaker-driven non-profit that commissions and supports documentary films, journalists and artists. Its slate includes "American Factory," the 2020 Academy Award winner for Best Documentary Feature. The organisation had been teasing "When It Started to Burn" since 19 August 2026, when its Instagram account labelled the film "COMING SOON." (Deadline, Field of Vision, Instagram)
Beyond its own productions, Field of Vision runs several free support programmes for documentary makers: a legal clinic for freelancers in the United States, a mentorship and consultation scheme it recently relaunched, and — jointly with the Freedom of the Press Foundation — a Digital Security Clinic for filmmakers now in its sixth edition. (Field of Vision)
The choice of release date carries its own weight. Ukrainian Independence Day commemorates the 1991 declaration that severed the country from the Soviet Union's final chapter. Launching a film about ordinary people sustaining a war effort on that anniversary places the focus where Hammer has consistently aimed it — on civilians, not generals, and on endurance measured in years rather than headlines. (Deadline)
