The documentary, directed by Volodymyr Tykhyy, captures the wartime spirit of Ukraine by depicting the events of August 24, 2022, the 31st anniversary of the restoration of Ukrainian statehood. The film was shot simultaneously in various locations, including the relatively safe cities of Kyiv and Lviv, the rocket-stricken cities of Kharkiv and Mykolaiv, a trench on the frontline in the Donetsk region and the beaches of Odesa. A total of 11 cameramen were involved in the filming.

“Ukrainian Independence. As It Is.” offers a captivating insight into the lives of different people on this important day. In the film, you meet very different characters: an artist, a former member of parliament, an operator of an anti-tank system and of a mortar battery, a 14-year-old pub cleaner, a soldier of the Rapid Reaction Force, employees of the state emergency service, employees responsible for activating the air alarm in Kyiv and a beach policeman. Together, their stories provide a vivid picture of life in Ukraine during the ongoing war.

The film was produced by the documentary association “Babylon’13” (Ukraine) in collaboration with “Cineo Studio” and “Black Photon” (Poland) and shot with the support of the Polish Film Institute.

“Babylon’13” is the independent association of Ukrainian documentary filmmakers. It was founded at the beginning of the Revolution of Dignity in 2013. The team has been filming the turning points of Ukraine’s modern history and following the course of the Russian-Ukrainian war for ten years. The association has released more than 500 short documentaries and 11 feature films.

The film will be shown in the original language (Ukrainian) with English subtitles.