When Russia invaded Ukraine, the women of the country’s leading contemporary dance troupe were forced to confront a painful question: could their art still matter in a time of war? What emerged was a performance of fierce resilience, created in bomb-damaged theaters, rehearsed through the sounds of air raids, and carried by the conviction that dance itself could be a form of resistance.

In this moving documentary, filmmaker Joe Hill captures the dancers’ journey as they transform grief and uncertainty into an act of creative protest. Match in a Haystack is both a portrait of courage and a reminder that art can endure even under the darkest circumstances.

Following the screening, join us for a discussion with director Joe Hill, whose fearless storytelling has earned him five Emmy Awards and international acclaim.