ПУТЧЁSELF [ putschyourself ] is an interactive documentary project that explores state violence, traumas of transition and collective memory prompted by the Soviet coup d'état of 19-21 August 1991.
The Soviet coup attempt by the communist hard-liners had provoked an act of civil resistance amongst the Soviet citizens. Thousands went out to protest on the streets, especially in Moscow. Their presence and determination greatly contributed to the demise of the USSR.
Initially supported by the Yeltsin Centre in Moscow we've been working on this project since 2011 and had a number of public screenings in Russia as well as in Britain. Amongst our contributors are notable artists and journalists as well as ordinary citizens of the former USSR.
Margarita Novikova
Margarita Novikova is an award-winning artist-filmmaker born in Moscow; she holds a Master of Sound Arts degree from the University of the Arts London. She explores interactive storytelling aiming to engage people to listen to less heard voices and communities. She makes oral history and different collections of human stories interactive, accessible and captivating. She works across community projects, audio-video installations, and interactive documentaries.
hello@beheard.com
Elena Michajlowska
author
Originally from the Russian Far East, Elena Michajlowska is now based in London, where she has been working on documentary film productions for a number of years. Having completed an MA in Screenwriting at Westminster University Film School, she is focusing on writing and her work as a co-director of the Anton Chekhov Foundation.
