The Kinonedelja (Kino-Week) newsreels represent Dziga Vertov's first contribution to cinema. A total of 43 issues were produced between May 1918 and June
1919. Vertov joined the newsreel’s ranks as a secretary but by the fall of 1918 had taken on full responsibility for the series,
defining the content and structure of each issue. In some cases, Vertov even personally directed the newsreels. An average
issue usually ran to 180 meters and contained from 5 to upwards of 7 individual items. These included short actualities from
the Civil War front lines, reports on rallies or portraits of notable activists and important officials.
Some of the best cameramen of the time worked on the newsreels including Aleksandr Lemberg, Aleksandr Levickij and Eduard
Tissé (who was later to photograph all of Sergej Eisenstein's major works). Vertov would later re-use the footage they shot
during this time in his feature-length films following the principle of his Kinoglaz concept.
The items are closely tied to the historical events of the time. A straight forward representation of everyday life and political
manifestations during the Civil War are at the center of the 1918 issues. In the first issue of the series, Lenin and Lev
Trockij already appear before the camera. Also making an appearance is Pavel Dybenko, the former hero of the revolution who
had to stand before the Revolutionary Tribunal following his defeat in a battle against Germany.