Balmy Army: This is Also Ukraine
When:
—
Venue:
Birkbeck 43 Gordon Square
Daria, Hanna, Kira, Olexa, Rost, Sasha, Vlada, Vlada, Vesna and Zakhar are ten teenagers who like Radiohead, making art, swimming, dating, watching films and hanging out with their friends. They also live close to the front line. This is also Ukraine is a poetic, patchwork film of their lives from their point of view: unfiltered, normal and equally extraordinary.
In the spring of 2025, these ten young people began filming, writing, singing, dancing, hugging, laughing, crying and meeting up to make a film about their lives –supported by a team of Ukrainian and British artists, psychologists, and producers. See how these young people have cared for and supported each other to explore their thoughts and feelings on identity, belonging, love, rage and living in the face of, and despite, constant danger. This is also Ukraine shows the reality, hopes and challenges of a being a teenager, and of experiences that go unheard while the horror and stupidity of war unfolds. It is also really silly at times because, y’know, balance is important.
Join us for a screening of the film followed by a discussion with project mentor Kateryna Krokha, director James Leadbitter aka the vacuum cleaner , and Art Therapy Force director Veronika Skliarova appearing in conversation with Birkbeck’s Molly Flynn.
Watch the trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yop-1cnBho
A film written, filmed and edited by Daria, Hanna, Kira, Olexa, Rost, Sasha, Vlada, Vlada, Vesna and Zakhar, with mentoring from the vacuum cleaner and Oksana Chyzh, Mariia Felenko, Anastasiia Kosodii, Kateryna Krokha, Andrii Ptitsyn; Producers - Anna Burdina (The Independent Cultural Initiatives), Jenna Omeltschenko, Catherine Herbert, Kateryna Krokha; Senior Editor - Kateryna Krokha; A project by the vacuum cleaner. Made in collaboration with Art Therapy Force, Veronika Skliarova and Natalia Shapovalova. Balmy Ukraine is funded by the British Council’s International Collaboration Grants, and using public funding by Arts Council England. The screening is made possible by Birkbeck Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Mental Health, Birkbeck Institute of the Moving Image, and Birkbeck Centre for Contemporary Theatre in partnership with Ukrainian Institute London.
Contact name: Matthew Barrington
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