Film makers gather for new campaign to mark 30th anniversary of Chernobyl disaster

Some of the world’s leading photographers, writers and film makers are set to take part in a new campaign run by Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International (CCI), to mark the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster this April.

Thu, 10 Mar, 2016 - 00:00

Steve Neville

‘Chernobyl is Forever’ will see film makers, writers, artists and photographers working on a series of projects which will recall and reassess the impact of the Chernobyl disaster.

Adi Roche has said that the work done by CCI since it first responded to the appeal from doctors in both the Ukraine and Belarus will form a central part of the projects which will be published over the next six months.

“There may be an impression that Chernobyl is something which happened a very long time ago and no longer poses a threat to the world but the reality of the situation is very, very different.”, said Ms Roche.

“Chernobyl is not something from the past; Chernobyl 'was forever', Chernobyl 'is forever'; the impact of that single shocking nuclear accident can never be undone; its radioactive footprint is embedded in our world forever and countless millions of people are still being affected by its deadly legacy.”

“In recent months we have been approached by many leading film makers, writers and photographers who are anxious to update the Chernobyl story”

Michael Garrett of Garret and Garret Videography has produced the first work of ‘Chernobyl is Forever’ with a video of Chernobyl’s lost city of Pripyat, which has launched the campaign.

Speaking about the project, Mr Garrett said, “In 2015, I joined a team of photographers on a trip to Chernobyl, there's a melancholic beauty in every sight throughout the exclusion zone, and I was quickly captivated by the place.

“A lot of public interest in Chernobyl is focussed on the stunning decay of the exclusion zone, but the ongoing health problems associated with the disaster are often overlooked.

Mr Garrett added that “hopefully the amazing sights captured in the video will catch some of the public's attention and leave them with a little more awareness about the good work being done by CCI.”