Defiant
There’s more than one way to fight a war. Witness the ongoing invasion of Ukraine from inside the battle-torn country’s administration through such officials as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vice Prime Minister, and the nation’s lead negotiator, as they attempt to broker peace. As the war between Russia and Ukraine drags on, what was once a promise of steadfast support for Ukraine from the Western world has become increasingly lackluster. Ukrainian officials are fighting not only a physical war, but also an information war in the face of wavering public support in the United States and around the world. This change in public opinion has been compounded by Russia’s state-sponsored media and their narratives of the war, which are often in stark contrast with the reality of what the Ukrainian people are experiencing on the ground. Featuring close-up access to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, along with other top members of the Ukrainian administration, DEFIANT is a compelling and urgently timely documentary that sheds light on a modern day David and Goliath. —G.S. Content Warning: This film contains material that may be difficult for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.
Forever-Forever
Will you survive if nobody loves you? Get an uncompromising glimpse of troubled adolescent life in post-Communist Kyiv through Tonia, the new kid in school, as she tries to assimilate into her new world. But as a love triangle starts to form among the clique, will her past catch up with her? In an attempt to hide from an abusive ex-boyfriend, Tonia transfers to a new high school, where she instantly clicks with Lera, a popular troublemaker who quickly pulls Tonia into her orbit. In over her head, Tonia soon finds herself in the middle of a love triangle, with feelings for two boys in Lera’s close-knit friend group. Meanwhile, Tonia’s ex is closing in on her with increasingly violent threats. Exploring themes of desire, belonging, and impermanence, this coming-of-age story is full of trials, tribulations, and real heart. Set in Kyiv in the 1990s, FOREVER-FOREVER is an edgy love letter to the rebellious youth movement that rose from the ashes of the Soviet Union. —G.S. Content Warning: This film contains material that may be difficult for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.
Rule of Two Walls
In this harsh but elucidating doc, Ukrainian-American filmmaker David Gunik trains his camera on the Ukrainian artists who have chosen to stay behind as Russia’s invasion rages on around them. By making their art, they hope to protect their embattled country’s own artistic culture, no matter how many bombs drop around them. Witness the war in Ukraine from the eyes of the artists who stayed behind. RULE OF TWO WALLS is a documentary on the ground in Ukraine with artists of all kinds—musicians, visual artists, performers—who use their work as a form of resistance to the Russian invasion. The film is one of the most expressive cinematic documents of the war in Ukraine yet. It is not only powerful in capturing artistic resistance, but also in reflecting how daily life continues despite the omnipresent cloud of war. Immersing the audience into the tense atmosphere of ongoing struggle, these artists’ collective work is presented with deep curiosity and immediacy, sending an urgent message of irrepressible spirit to the outside world and toward Russian forces. —C.F. Content Warning: This film contains material that may be difficult for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.
Defiant
There’s more than one way to fight a war. Witness the ongoing invasion of Ukraine from inside the battle-torn country’s administration through such officials as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vice Prime Minister, and the nation’s lead negotiator, as they attempt to broker peace. As the war between Russia and Ukraine drags on, what was once a promise of steadfast support for Ukraine from the Western world has become increasingly lackluster. Ukrainian officials are fighting not only a physical war, but also an information war in the face of wavering public support in the United States and around the world. This change in public opinion has been compounded by Russia’s state-sponsored media and their narratives of the war, which are often in stark contrast with the reality of what the Ukrainian people are experiencing on the ground. Featuring close-up access to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, along with other top members of the Ukrainian administration, DEFIANT is a compelling and urgently timely documentary that sheds light on a modern day David and Goliath. —G.S. Content Warning: This film contains material that may be difficult for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.
Athletes of War
How does one fight for the gold when an endless war has taken away a generation of competitors and destroyed their facilities? Meet the dwindling number of Ukrainian athletes as they prepare for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, while trying to survive Russia’s violent invasion of their country. The war in Ukraine is seen through a unique lens in ATHLETES OF WAR, a tribute to both the determination within all athletes and the plight for Ukrainian liberation from Russian forces. This documentary views the war through the experiences of Olympic athletes and their families. Theirs was a mission of honoring their country in sport, and when the invasion began, their duty to the country came into further focus. But when the International Olympic Committee announced they would permit Russian athletes to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Ukrainian athletes found renewed purpose in showing the world Ukraine’s refusal to submit to Russian domination or the emotional wounds of war, delivering a story of resilience on a global scale. —C.F.
United for Ukraine Celebration
You are invited to attend this special evening where we will celebrate those that have supported our friends in need, reaffirm our commitment to this vital cause, and identify ways we can continue to work together to magnify our impact. Our evening keynote speaker, Alex Kuzma from the Ukrainian Catholic University Foundation, will provide a report on the State of Ukraine. RSVP: https://www.onehopeneo.org/ukrainedinner
Day of Defenders
Meet & Greet with Manus McCaffery, an American soldier who fought for Ukraine. Music from Olha & Lyubomyr Havrylyuk! ~Music ~Dinner ~Auction 216-346-6497
