Welcome to Chechnya

In the harrowing documentary "Welcome to Chechnya," American reporter and documentarian David France shines a light on the dire persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals in the repressive Russian republic of Chechnya, where activists risk unimaginable peril to confront the ongoing anti-gay purge. With unfettered access and a groundbreaking approach to protecting anonymity, France exposes the atrocities committed by local authorities, led by Governor Ramzan Kadyrov, who deny any systematic abuse and instead seek to "purify" the region's population. The film uses cutting-edge facial replacement techniques to reveal the faces of its courageous subjects without compromising their safety, resulting in a powerful and urgent call to action that leaves no doubt about the true horror of this under-reported atrocity.