Ukrainian-Canadian filmmaker hopes new documentary will help war-torn country – Halifax | 24CA News

A Ukranian-Canadian filmmaker desires to make use of her energy of storytelling to assist the war-torn nation.

Olesya Shyvikova is hoping her new documentary will take her to the streets of Ukraine. Shyvikova says she’s uninterested in watching the battle from the consolation of her house in Nova Scotia.

“We’re loud. We like to dance. We love to sing, and we love to eat and wear colourful clothes,” says Shyvikova as she fondly describes reminiscences of her house nation.

She explains utilizing her digicam helps her cope with the ache of seeing the battle in Ukraine.

Shyvikova says her newest movie, Threads of Humanity, will observe her crew as they discover the nation amid Russia’s invasion. She’s the director and co-producer of the movie.

“I know that for all of us, but for me, especially, going back to Ukraine will be a very cathartic experience,” she says.

“I will be really sharing my own feelings. And our crew — Canadians that have never been to Ukraine or the war zone — we’ll be sharing everything on the ground, so that people can really go to Ukraine with us.”

However, they should safe funding earlier than the challenge goes forward. A Kickstarter has been launched with the aim of elevating $118,600 to cowl new gear for the battle zone.

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First, they must purchase digicam tools to movie the documentary, as Shyvikova explains they gained’t be capable to deliver their very own into the war-ravaged nation. They plan to donate the gear on the finish of the shoot, supplied it stays in good situation. All crew might be paid beneath the trade price.

“We’ll need Kevlar helmets. We’ll need bulletproof vests,” she says. “We’ll need a good car that we’ll rent to be able to travel around.”

Shyvikova says the documentary will concentrate on battle crimes and humanity.

“This is our biggest idea — the war crimes,” she explains. “We have a team of lawyers and political analysts that will help us because I’m just a filmmaker. Before I was making films about women and about Canadian history, never war material.”

They’ve already filmed a teaser for the challenge that includes Canadians who’ve helped Ukrainians throughout the battle, together with Nova Scotia fisherman Lex Brukovskiy.

He travelled to the war-ravaged nation to offer support and to take refugees to security.

“Yes, you get scared for so long,” he says within the teaser. “After constant shelling for a few days, you get used to it, and then instead of being scared, you just get really, really angry.”

The teaser additionally options 92-year-old Canadian Grace Williams, who has been knitting blue and yellow teddy bears to boost cash to assist individuals impacted by the battle in Ukraine.

She’s the inspiration for the movie’s title.

Shyvikova says any assist for the challenge is welcome from a hug to a donation. She says when the movie crew returns from the war-torn nation they’ll particularly be in want of assist from the neighborhood.

“When someone embarks on a big journey like this, it’s very difficult and it’s very lonely unless we have help,” she says. “Canadians are very good in terms of community. If you need help, you close your eyes, you open your eyes, and you have a community around you.”

The Kickstarter marketing campaign launched at 5 a.m. Ukrainian time on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

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