Cleveland International Film Festival Guide: Through Ukrainian Eyes

Published: March 16, 2024

Film festival season is well underway, and Razom Cinema is keeping a close eye on what’s being programmed. The Sundance Film Festival brought another win for a Ukrainian story – the documentary Porcelain War directed by Slava Leontyev and Brendan Bellomo took home the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary Feature. The film is coming to the Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) and will be screening together with other stories focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine as well as narrative cinema in a program called Ukrainian Cinema. CIFF 2024 will take place in Cleveland, OH from April 3-13, with CIFF streams available April 14-21.

This program also includes Razom Cinema grantee Rule of Two Walls directed by David Gutnik and produced by Olha Beskhmelnytsina! It is incredible to see Ukrainian cinema be celebrated at international film festivals and we are excited to share our Festival Guide: Through Ukrainian Eyes ClFF 2024 edition. Good news – if you are not able to catch them in Cleveland in person, you can tune in online through CIFF Streams. Here’s what we’ve got:

Rule of Two Walls

In-person: Sat April 6 | KeyBank State Theater

Online: April 14 – 21

In this harsh but elucidating doc, UkrainianAmerican 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.

Defiant

In-person: Fri April 5 | Upper Allen Theater

Tue April 9 | Upper Allen Theater

Online: April 14 – 21

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 Minister Of Foreign Affairs, the Vice Prime Minister, and the nation’s lead negotiator, as they attempt to broker peace.

Athletes of War

In-person: Wed April 10 | Mimi Ohio Theater

Online: April 14 – 21

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.

Porcelain War

In-person: Fri April 12 | Allen Theater

As the Russia-Ukraine war rages mere miles away, Kharkiv-based husband and wife team Slava Leontyev and Anya Stasenko make tiny porcelain figurines. What does it mean to continue with their artistic passions as the world crumbles around them? Winner of the Documentary Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2024.

Forever – Forever

In-person: Fri April 12 | Mimi Ohio Theater

Online: April 14 – 21

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-person: Wed April 10 | Allen Theater

Online: April 14 – 21

I am Coming Home

In a war-torn land, a courageous young woman joins the Ukrainian military forces as a sapper, determined to bring peace by clearing the land where she was born. Her journey defies conventions, showcasing the power of individual bravery amidst the chaos of the war.

Our Ukrainian Sky

An unlikely group of lawyers with no previous humanitarian experience, drive used pickup trucks into an active warzone.

A Day in February

In another country, separated from her family, one phone call is all Galyna has to ensure their safety.

Blue Skies Over Donetsk

A Ukrainian father delivers stoves to frontline families without power, all while attempting to create normalcy for his children growing up in a war zone.

Claudio’s Song

A young man faces the wrath of a family of criminals that target people who are famous on the internet and extort money from them. When their scheme fails, the plan to kill him takes an unexpected turn.

Berdyans’k

Lera, a young Ukrainian refugee in Ireland, uses dark web seance software to connect with her sister who has just died on the front line.

Note of Defiance

Filmed in early 2023, on the Ukrainian-Russian border, this short documentary explores two artists’ use of their creativity and art as a means of cultural survival and defiance.

Make sure to follow our newsletter and social media for more announcements!

Together, we can prove to cultural programmers that Ukrainian stories are necessary and that there is a large audience ready for them.

Дивимось і читаймо Українське Разом!

Learn more about Razom efforts on the cultural diplomacy front within our Razom Culture project.

Uprooted: How Razom and The Kyiv Independent brought stories of abducted Ukrainian children to American cities

Published: March 13, 2024

In an effort to bring awareness to U.S. audiences about Russian war crimes against the youngest and most vulnerable Ukrainians, Razom recently collaborated with The Kyiv Independent, a leading English-language media outlet in Ukraine. The partnership produced a series of screenings and panel discussions of their documentary Uprooted, which investigates the illegal abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children from Mariupol by Russia.

The film tour lasted ten days and covered five cities: New York, Washington D.C., Houston, Austin and Phoenix. During this time, Razom together with its local partners arranged 7 screenings and 4 side events that engaged approximately 500 people around the U.S. in the conversation about this unimaginable war crime. We were honored to have the Kyiv Independent team represented by its CEO Daryna Shevchenko, Head of War Crimes Investigations, Yevheniia Motorevska and War Crime reporter, Olesia Bida.

The delegation brought with it a very special participant, Ivan Maktkovskyi, a protagonist in the documentary. Ivan was a young person trying to escape Mariupol but was intercepted and forcibly transferred by the occupying forces to Donetsk. Fortunately, Ivan managed to report his location and was returned to Ukraine. However, his peers were taken to Russia against their will. Now, Ivan considers his mission to be that of acting as the voice for those children who were abducted by Russia to help them return to Ukraine.

Ivan’s testimony added value to every event and touched everyone who heard his story.

Experts on the topic contributed to the conversion in each city on the tour.

In New York, we were joined by a journalist and host of the “Black Diplomat” podcast Terrell Jermaine Starr who explained the Russian invasion of Ukraine through the universal practices of oppression. During the screening at Columbia University, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, Ambassador Serhiy Kyslytsya joined the conversation moderated by Katya Soldak, a journalist at Forbes, to share his experience of working on the crime of child abduction at the U.N.

A writer and executive editor at the Reckoning Project, Peter Pometanzev contributed to the panel in Washington, D.C. by explaining how Russia uses the abduction of children in its propaganda.

A historian and researcher of former Soviet countries, Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon shared her expertise on the history of Russian colonialism in Ukraine, at an intimate discussion in Houston.

Nathan Mark Hutson from the LBJ School of Public Affairs and Steven Seegel from the Center for East European, and Eurasian Studies joined the panel at The University of Texas at Austin.

In Phoenix we were honored to have State Congressman David Cook sharing his experience of visiting Ukraine, and a local activist, Orest Jejna.

Representatives of the Embassy of Ukraine to the United States were able to join the screenings in Washington, D.C., and Houston.

During the tour, the delegation had a chance to meet with the Office of Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal in Washington, D.C., representatives from the State Department, Senator John Cornyn’s Regional Office in Austin, and have a personal meeting with Congresswoman Debbie Lesko in Phoenix.

During the meetings, the delegation briefed officials on the issue of the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia and the appropriate legislative and policy actions that the U.S. can take to help Ukraine.

In addition to the screening, the delegation participated in side events including a closed networking opportunity for journalists and an open house at the Ukrainian Institute of America.

We held meetings with prominent think tanks in Washington, D.C., like the Wilson Center, CEPA and USIP. In Phoenix, a panel discussion was held at the German-speaking community center, Treffpunkt. Side events allowed the participants to expand their conversation with the public and exchange experiences with their colleagues.

The tour attracted the attention of the local media and resulted in multiple interviews by KXAN, Northeast Valley News, Arizona Central and others.

A special treat during the tour was Ivan’s meeting with Gilbert Tuhabonye — a survivor of the genocide during the Burundian Civil War, a long-distance runner, and author of This Voice in My Heart: A Runner’s Memoir of Genocide, Faith, and Forgiveness.

A quick conversation between the two grew into a joint run the next morning in Austin, and inspired Ivan to journal about his experience of abduction.

The tour increased awareness about the crime of abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia and exposed Russian atrocities in occupied territories as yet another reason to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom.

This tour would not have been possible without the dedicated Razom team behind it and Razom’s wonderful partners. We would like to thank the following people and organizations for contributing to the organization of the tour:

The Cooper Union
Ukrainian Institute of America
Human Rights Foundation
Georgetown University Ukrainian Society
Columbia University Ukrainian Club
UT Austin School of Journalism and Media, The LBJ School of Public Affairs, The Alexander Hamilton Society, The Strauss Center for International Security and Law, UT Austin Center for East European and Eurasian Studies
14 pews in Houston
Cactus & Tryzub
Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations
Treffpunkt
UNWLA
Houston for Ukraine (HTX4Ukraine)

Special thanks to the Office of Congressman Mike Quigley, Democrat of Illinois.

Feel free to organize screenings of Uprooted in your community. Watch the documentary on Kyiv Independent’s YouTube.

Together, we can demand accountability for stolen childhoods!

Winter Preparedness Grants Make a Difference for Thousands

Published: March 12, 2024

The war in Ukraine has brought immense hardship, and winter only exacerbated the challenges faced by many communities. Damaged infrastructure and limited resources had left residents vulnerable to the harsh realities of a cold season. This winter, Razom Relief partnered with Ukrainian organizations to provide crucial winter aid, delivering items like firewood, power banks, blankets, gas cookers, and aiding in house insulation and windows, and roof renovations. In this article, we aim to spotlight three of such organizations.

Razom x Bilozerskyi Center for Regional Development

Razom provided funds to the Bilozerskyi Center for Regional Development to distribute winter supplies in Bilozerka and Stanislav. These communities endured a 9-month occupation and, even after liberation, they continue to face the constant threat of artillery shelling. Those who could evacuate did so. Mostly elderly people, large families, and individuals with disabilities remained. Securing their most fundamental needs is an ongoing struggle, particularly during the harsh winter months.

This project provided 44 families with fuel briquettes for heating and 70 families with essential winter kits, including flashlights, thermoses, portable gas stoves, blankets, and socks.

Tetiana Buzhenko, humanitarian staff member at the Bilozerskyi Center for Regional Development:

“I am amazed at how grateful our fellow villagers are for the help they receive. Some cry, others constantly express thanks. It feels like their cherished dream has come true. It is also sad at the same time, because you understand that people need simple things that they did not think about before, and now they are not able to afford them. Did anyone ever think that we would need portable stoves or flashlights?! I am glad that I can help my fellow countrymen!”

Kateryna Okseniuk, Head of humanitarian staff at the Bilozerskyi Center for Regional Development:

“The humanitarian direction in our organization is new, but quite powerful. During all of 2023, we worked tirelessly to help our communities improve their living conditions, meet the needs of residents so that necessary things like medicines and goods were available to them. Frankly speaking, it is not easy, but we understand that if we have the opportunity to help, we cannot neglect it. This project shows how much we are needed by our fellow countrymen and how vulnerable they are now.”

Razom x Nove Misto

Nove Misto Charity Foundation is an organization established in 2022 dedicated to providing vital humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Led by construction expert Kyrylo Hordiienko, Nove Misto focuses on restoring damaged civilian structures, ensuring access to utilities, clearing debris, and assisting animals in need.

In areas like the Kharkiv region, frequently targeted by Russian forces, Razom supported Nove Misto in replacing windows for 21 households. This seemingly simple project provided vital repairs for families struggling with the harsh winter conditions. Damaged windows meant more than just drafts and discomfort; they symbolized compromised safety, increased vulnerability, and a constant reminder of the ongoing struggle.

In the village of Tsupivka, Kharkiv region, Mrs. Nadiya Pavlivna’s story is a testament to the impact of Razom Relief’s initiatives. Faced with a harsh winter and broken windows in her house, she felt hopeless. However, with Razom’s support, Nove Misto replaced her windows, bringing warmth and comfort back to her home.

“Life in the village of Tsupivka has never been easy, but recent years have turned it into a real challenge. My house has suffered serious damage and was deteriorating with each day. Winter was approaching, and the windows were broken. I lost hope that I would be able to change anything because my resources were limited. One day, I discovered the Nove Misto and Razom’s project. Their team arrived and replaced the windows, bringing back warmth and comfort to my home. The gratitude I feel cannot be expressed in words. This is not just a window replacement, it is a return of home and hope.”

In another impactful case, after Mrs. Lyubov Fedorivna’s home was damaged by shelling, she struggled to survive the cold and drafts. Nove Misto not only replaced her windows but also provided building materials, food, and hygiene kits – essential resources for maintaining dignity and moving forward with her life.

“After the shelling in our village of Prudyanka, my life stopped. My small house, which was my fortress, was damaged by shelling. Living in such conditions, in the cold and drafts, was almost impossible. I prayed every day for a miracle, and one day my prayers were answered. When representatives of Nove Misto came to me, I could hardly believe in the reality of their help. They not only replaced the damaged windows, but also provided building materials for repairs, as well as food and hygiene kits that were so needed.

From now on, looking through the new clean windows, I see not only the village, but also a bright future. Words of gratitude sound in my heart every day.”

Razom x Nabutok

Razom is also partnering with Nabutok, a volunteer-driven organization providing indispensable support to Ukrainians on the front lines and in war-torn areas of eastern Ukraine. Since April 2022, they have delivered over 300 tons of humanitarian aid, making 82 trips to deliver critical supplies to these regions.

“We cannot stand aside,” says Serhiy, the head of Nabutok. “Thanks to partnerships like this, we’ve helped evacuate a lot of families and provided vital resources to countless others.”

Razom awarded a grant to Nabutok to deliver essential winter supplies to families in Krasnohorivka, a frontline settlement in Donetsk Oblast. The grant funded the purchase and distribution of items like flashlights, warmers, power banks, firewood, and blankets, providing a lifeline to approximately 230 families.

Nabutok’s unwavering commitment inspires us all. Their dedication, along with the support of Razom and its donors, makes a tangible difference in the lives of Ukrainians facing immense hardship.

The fight for Ukraine continues, but Razom remains dedicated to working with organizations like Nove Misto, Bilozerskyi Center for Regional Development and Nabutok who are providing life-saving assistance on the ground.

Here’s how you can help:

Donate: Your contributions allow Razom to continue supporting frontline communities and providing essential supplies.
Spread Awareness: Share this story and others like it to raise awareness about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
Stay Informed: Visit the Razom website for regular updates and opportunities to get involved.

Together, we can stand with the courageous people of Ukraine and ensure they have the resources they need.

We invite you to learn more and support Razom’s Relief Program.

Razom Presents Stabnet: The First Mobile Stabilization Points for Frontline Medics

Published: February 28, 2024

The mobile stabilization container, Stabnet, aims to help save severely wounded individuals on the front lines. Medical brigades estimate that 50% of those wounded cannot be saved due to delayed evacuation and lack of proper facilities. Stabnet aims to provide frontline medical assistance by offering a compact, autonomous solution.

“The idea arose during volunteer trips providing ambulances and equipment,” said French volunteer Damien Arri-Maren. “The design borrows from existing mobile units and can be quickly delivered by a pickup truck, saving crucial time.”

“Our goal is to offer swift aid,” Evelina Kurilets, Executive Director of Razom in Ukraine, shared. Colonel Oleksandr Tomak added that our heroes often receive care in unsuitable conditions, highlighting the need for a network of these containers.

“Distance between the battlefield and stabilization points is significant, leading to longer evacuation times and, unfortunately, preventable losses,” Tomak noted. “Prompt and proper care can also reduce amputations from infections.”

The first pilot container was supported by Razom. Developers consulted with medical brigades during development. The container offers autonomous operation through water tanks and generators and features a full suite of essential medical equipment for emergency stabilization.

“We have equipment for oxygenation, intubation, ventilation, defibrillation, vital signs monitoring, ultrasounds, and bleeding control,” explained surgeon Captain Lyudmila Sakali. “Additionally, there’s a sterilizer, sink, and refrigerator for medicines and blood products.”

After testing in real combat conditions, the container will return for adjustments and further development. The goal is to create a network of 100 Stabnet units across the front line, effectively addressing the issue of losing wounded heroes during evacuation.

We invite you to learn more and support Razom’s Heroes Program!

Razom for Ukraine has issued a statement regarding reports that a Russian-American dual citizen has been arrested in Russia

Published: February 20, 2024

Razom for Ukraine has issued a statement regarding reports that a Russian-American dual citizen has been arrested in Russia for reportedly making a donation to Razom in the immediate aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Razom for Ukraine has issued a statement regarding reports that a Russian-American dual citizen has been arrested in Russia

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Razom Brings to the U.S. Award-Winning Documentary About the Abduction of Ukrainian Children

Published: February 7, 2024

Razom, along with the Kyiv Independent, will organize panel discussions and screenings of their documentary Uprooted in five American cities.

Uprooted is a documentary about the abduction, deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation. The film investigates 30 cases of abduction of Ukrainian children in the occupied city of Mariupol and features interviews with three victims of the crime. It sheds light on the war crimes committed against Ukrainian children and unpacks the complexity of the systemic Russian policy of forcible deportations.

The War Crimes Investigations Unit of the Kyiv Independent won the National Competition of Journalistic Investigations award for this documentary.

U.S.-based nonprofit Razom for Ukraine will host the creators of the documentary as well as one of its subjects, while in America. The delegation will be represented by:

Daryna Shevhecnko, CEO of the Kyiv Independent
Yevheniia Motorevska, Head of War Crimes Investigations Unit, the Kyiv Independent
Olesia Bida, War Crime reporter, the Kyiv Independent
Ivan Matkovskyi, a subject of the documentary, a witness, previously forcibly transferred a minor who has been successfully returned to Ukraine.

“The Russians like to claim that they are actually saving Ukrainian children rather than deporting them. This is not true. They have established and finely tuned the system of deporting children to Russia. Maria Lvova-Belova is not the only one behind this; doctors, social service workers, and even ‘ordinary Russians’ who take Ukrainian children into their families are participating in this war crime,” said the film’s author, journalist Olesia Bida.

The film will be screened in five US cities:

February 14, 16 – New York City.
Location and tickets: HERE
Side event at Columbia University: HERE
February 15 – Washington DC
Location and tickets: HERE
Side event at Georgetown University: HERE
February 18 – Houston, TX
Location and tickets: HERE
February 19-20 – Austin, TX
Location and tickets: HERE
February 22-23 – Phoenix, AZ
Location and tickets: HERE

The screenings will be followed by panel discussions featuring:

Daryna Shevchenko, CEO, Kyiv Independent
Olesia Bida, War Crime reporter, Kyiv Independent, author of the movie
Yevheniia Motorevska, Head of War Crimes Investigations Unit, Kyiv Independent
Ivan Matkovskyi, a subject of the documentary and former forcibly transferred minor.

Local experts in each city will join the conversation, including Terrell Jermaine Starr (NYC), Peter Pomeranzev (DC) and Kimberley S. Julian-Varnon (Houston).

“The goals of the project are to bring the voices of people in Ukraine directly to audiences in the US, to raise awareness about the widespread russian war crime of abduction and deportation of Ukrainians, especially children, and to expose the evidence of russian genocide of Ukrainians as the United States debates whether to continue to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom,” said the manager of the project Katya Pavlevych.

About Razom

Razom, which means “together” in Ukrainian, is a leading U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to upholding the principles of the Revolution of Dignity (Maidan) and actively contributing to the establishment of a secure, prosperous, and democratic Ukraine. Razom delivers on this mission along with a network of volunteers and partners, by providing humanitarian assistance, and administering programs and services to support health, advocacy, civil society and culture.

About Kyiv Independent

The Kyiv Independent is Ukraine’s fastest-growing English-language media outlet. It was created in November 2021, just three months before the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, with a mission to serve as the bridge between Ukraine and the world, delivering reliable news, context, and on-the-ground reporting.

Together, we can demand accountability for stolen childhoods!

International Orthopaedic Conference: Advancements in Trauma and Arthroplasty

Published: February 1, 2024

Friday, March 29 – Saturday, March 30, 2024

Join us for a comprehensive two-day conference for orthopedic surgeons interested in expanding their knowledge in trauma and arthroplasty. Our panel of speakers is composed of international, national, and regional experts in their respective fields. The conference will encompass a wide array of topics crucial to modern orthopedic practice, including amputations, upper and lower extremity injuries, complex fractures, total joint replacements and more. A dedicated segment will focus on discussing challenging cases that participants submit prior to the conference. A selection of surgeries will be live-streamed in English and Ukrainian with the operating surgeons available to answer questions.

Location:

Hosted by the First Medical Union of Lviv St. Panteleimon Hospital and Unbroken Rehabilitation Center in partnership with Razom for Ukraine

Located in the Clinical Municipal Communal Emergency Hospital Conference Hall at Ivan Mykolaichuk St, 9, Lviv, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine, 79000

Directors:

Schedule:

Friday, March 29, 2024: Presentations with Clinical Case Discussions in the Afternoon
Saturday, March 30, 2024: Live Surgery with available Ukrainian translation

Arthroplasty Topics:

Unicompartmental knee replacement update.
Extensile exposures during hip arthroplasty.
Unicompartmental versus High tibial osteotomy in the athlete.
Periprosthetic fractures; best options for stable fixation.

Trauma Topics:

To be announced

Speakers:

To be announced

Participants:

Ukrainian surgeons with a specialty or interest in orthopedic trauma or arthroplasty.
In-person maximum of 180 participants with an unlimited maximum of online participants.
The conference will be held in English with Ukrainian translation.

For in-person participants, registration includes: entry to conference presentations, case discussions, and conference space with the ability to ask questions during live surgery, refreshments, and lunch for the two conference days, certificate accreditation from Unbroken.

For virtual participants, registration includes: access to all presentations, case discussions, and access link to live surgeries. e-certificate for presentation and participation.

Complimentary lunch and refreshments will be provided by the conference for both days. Please book your own travel and accommodations to the conference, those will not be included.

By enrolling for the conference, you hereby acknowledge and accept the following terms and conditions:

The organization reserves the right to modify the program, date, and/or venue of the conference at any time without prior notice. The organization is absolved of responsibility for any loss or damage arising from substitution, alteration, postponement, or cancellation of the event due to causes beyond its control. The organization retains the right and holds sole discretion to cancel any conference at any time in the event of unavoidable and unforeseeable circumstances. In the event of cancellation, the organization will make reasonable and suitable alternative arrangements, such as posting the cancellation on the official event website to inform those who have booked arrangements for the event.

Learn more about and support the Co-Pilot Project and Razom Health.

Upcoming U.S. Events Focusing on the Abduction and Deportation of Ukrainian Children by Russia

Published: January 27, 2024

The war in Ukraine has inflicted unimaginable suffering, but one of the most egregious and heart-wrenching aspects is the widespread abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia. These innocent victims are being torn from their families, their homes, and their childhoods, with devastating consequences.

In the coming days and weeks, several key events will be taking place around the U.S. about this urgent issue. Razom invites you to participate in order to raise awareness and demand action:

Washington, D.C.

January 31st:

The Helsinki Commission hosts a hearing, “Eyewitness Accounts: Ukrainian Children and Civilians Abducted by Russia” featuring firsthand accounts from victims and experts, including:

-Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S.

-Pia Kauma, Member of Parliament from Finland and former Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly; OSCE PA President at the 2023 Annual Session in Vancouver.

-Mykola Kuleba, Founder and CEO of Save Ukraine, President of the Children’s Rescue Service, and former Commissioner for Children’s Rights in Ukraine.

-Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights.

Join the hearing at 2 pm ET at Longworth 1334 in person or online at bit.ly/HChearing.

February 2nd:

Georgetown University Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues, co-hosted by the U.S. State Department and the Embassies of Ukraine and the UK, presents “The War Against Ukraine’s Children”. Hear from high-level officials and advocates including:

-Gillian Huebner, Executive Director of the Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues at Georgetown University and a member of the Bring Kids Back UA task force.

-Nicole Chulick, the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the U.S. Department of State.

-Joel Hellman, the Dean of the Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) at Georgetown University.

-Mykola Kuleba, Founder and CEO of Save Ukraine, President of the Children’s Rescue Service, and a former Commissioner for Children’s Rights in Ukraine.

-Kyrylo Lapko, the Head of the International Relations Office at the Ukrainian Coordination Center for Family Upbringing and Child Care Development.

-Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner (Ombudsman) for Human Rights.

-Kati Csaba, the Executive Director of the Ukraine Bureau with Global Affairs Canada.

-Lesia Zaburanna, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament and Co-Chairwoman of the Ukraine-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Join the discussion from 2 pm to 4 pm ET at Copley Hall or online at https://www.youtube.com/@GlobalGeorgetown.

New York City

February 8th:

The Harriman Institute at Columbia University hosts “Kidnapped Childhood: Russia’s War on Ukraine’s Children”. Featuring Ukrainian filmmaker Tanya Khodakivska, artist Alevtina Kakhidze, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Dr. Volodymyr Venher and Mykola Kuleba from Save Ukraine. This event promises powerful insights and discussions and a peak into the upcoming animated documentary “The Blue Sweater with a Yellow Hole.”

Join in person at 6 pm ET at Pulitzer Hall or online at bit.ly/harrimanevent.

Across the U.S.

February 14th-24th:

Razom together with Kyiv Independent will bring their documentary “Uprooted” to five cities: Washington, D.C., New York City, Austin and Houston, TX, Phoenix, AZ.

This investigative film delves into the abduction and illegal deportation of children from Mariupol. Catch the screenings and panel discussions featuring the creators and one of the film’s subjects, Ivan, a young boy who experienced forcible transfer but was successfully returned to Ukraine.

February 14:

New York City, 7 pm
Location and tickets: HERE

February 15:

Washington DC, 7 pm

Location and tickets: HERE

February 17-18:

Houston: time and location TBD

Tickets: TBD

February 19-21:

Austin: time and location TBD
Tickets: TBD

February 22-24:

Phoenix: time and location TBD
Tickets: TBD

These events are crucial platforms to amplify the voices of Ukrainian children, shed light on this grave human rights violation, and urge action from international communities.

Attend in person, watch online, share the information, and raise your voice against this criminal injustice!

Together, we can demand accountability for stolen childhoods!

Razom for Ukraine leads letter to Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding REPO Act

Published: January 22, 2024

Razom for Ukraine leads letter to Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding REPO Act

Razom for Ukraine organized a letter from leading former officials and experts to members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians (REPO) Act, urging the committee to pass the legislation in its current form.

SURVEY ONE PAGER_Ukraine October 2023 FINAL _FOR MEDIA

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What to Read and See about Ukraine and Ukrainians in 2024

Published: January 18, 2024

A Journey Through Ukrainian Literature

Explore a rich array of Ukrainian books already translated into English, supported by Razom.

From Volodymyr Rafeyenko’s Mondegreen and his magical realism novel The Length of Days, exploring the annexation of Donetsk, to captivating works by other Ukrainian literary giants like Serhiy Zhadan, Andriy Kurkov, and Oksana Litsyshyna, as well as non-fiction accounts by Stanislav Aseyev, Serhiy Zhadan, and Andriy Kurkov. If you enjoyed “20 Days in Mariupol,” delve into the novel by its director, Mstyslav Chernov, titled The Dreamtime.

Olena Stiazhkina’s books.

Cecile the Lion Had To Die, a novel about the four Donetsk families and two generations, the last Soviet one and the first Ukrainian one. This book was Razom Book Club’s favorite read in 2021, which is why we extended a grant to publish it. This novel has already been taught in a few U.S. universities and received great marks by students and professors. Also, Olena’s diary of Russia’s 2014 take over of Donetsk was published for the first time in English. It was originally written in Russian, but the author decided not to publish it in the original language.

Pre-order copies of both books.

New Translations of Lesia Ukrainka

The modernist Ukrainian writer Lesia Ukrainka (pen name of Larysa Kosach-Kvitka) pioneered a new feminist literature at the forefront of European trends of the time. Born in 1871, her dramas, poetry and prose address concerns ranging from gender and race to feminism and environmentalism.

Harvard University Press is publishing a new translation of Cassandra, a dramatic poem and a translation of Forest Song by Razom’s frequent collaborators Virlana Tkacz and Wanda Phipps of Yara Arts. Cassandra has already played to great reviews in London in 2021, and Yara Arts staged Forest Song online during the Covid quarantine (available online).

Yaroslav Trofimov

Immerse yourself in the riveting firsthand account of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine capturing the heroism and resilience of the Ukrainian people, as recounted by Yaroslav Trofimov, Wall Street Journal’s Chief Foreign Correspondent. The title, Our Enemies Will Vanish, comes from Ukraine’s national hymn.

Artem Chapaye

A stunning debut collection by Artem Chapaye, a Ukrainian writer currently defending his country in Kyiv.

His collection, featuring the celebrated title story The Ukraine, published in the New Yorker in 2022, offers irreverent, tender, uncomfortable and inconvenient narratives.

Other Anticipated Books in 2024

Look forward to new translations of Andriy Kurkov’s novels, Artem Chech’s And Who are You?, Oksana Lutsyshyna’s Love Life, classics by Valerian Pidmohilny and Mike Iohanssen, and a sweeping Second World War novel depicting Kyiv under occupation by Oleksiy Nikitin.

A Journey Through Ukrainian Cinema

20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL

This powerful, award-winning documentary directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning Ukrainian journalist Mstyslav Chernov, is one of the “musts” to watch and spread the word about.

This year, “20 Days in Mariupol” made history for Ukraine by getting on the shortlist for the Academy Awards in two categories – International Feature and Documentary Feature.

Razom is proud to partner with

FRONTLINE | PBS in bringing this documentary to universities around the U.S. through our Ukraine on Campus program.

If you are a student, professor, staff at a university and would like to participate, reach out to info@razomforukraine.org and stay tuned for announcements!

In the meantime, catch the film online and spread the word!

Watch: 20 Days in Mariupol (full documentary) | FRONTLINE and The Associated Press

pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/20-days-in-mariupol

For more updates and where to catch the film next, see

20daysinmariupol.com

IN THE REARVIEW

Another documentary that entered the Razom Cinema network is Polish/Ukrainian/French collaboration called “In The Rearview”. Behind this award-winning film is a small team of filmmakers who put their lives on hold to help Ukraine and ended up documenting the journey. “In The Rearview” is a collection of stories that director Maciek Hamela recorded during his volunteer rescue expeditions to evacuate people from different regions in Ukraine to safety. In the recent Q&A after the screening, producer Anna Palenchuk shared that she and her family had to leave Bucha around the same time as Maciek’s rescue missions. “I could’ve been one of his passengers”, said Anna. Razom supported the documentary during the OSCAR 2024 campaign as it is another Ukrainian story in the run for the nominations.

Follow their social media channels for the latest on upcoming screenings: https://www.instagram.com/intherearview.film/

If you are interested in bringing this film to your community, give us a shout!

A RISING FURY

Razom had the pleasure to support the production of “A Rising Fury”, which is now a critically acclaimed and 96th Academy Award longlisted feature documentary about the Russo-Ukrainian War. Directed/produced by Lesya Kalynska and Ruslan Batytskyi, produced by TJ Collins and Jonathan Borge Lie, the film reveals the true untold story of how the Russo-Ukrainian war began in 2014. It’s a story about love, revolution, deception, and war filmed for nearly 10 years through intimate verité material. The filmmaking team has plans to make the documentary available to stream to the public in the U.S. and abroad in late spring 2024.

Mark your calendar – “A Rising Fury” will have a special screening in LA at TCL Chinese Theater on February 22, 2024 at 3:30PM and 7:00PM. For more information about the film and what’s next for the team, go to https://arisingfury.com/

RULE OF TWO WALLS

In Summer 2023, Razom provided a grant to the documentary team “Rule of Two Walls” to help bring their team and Ukrainian artists featured in the documentary to attend the World Premiere of the film at the Tribeca Film Festival. Since then, the documentary traveled across other prestigious film festivals and will screen in Australia at the Antenna Documentary Film Festival in February.

Executive produced by Liev Schreiber, the film gives an insight into the lives of Ukrainian artists who create art as a defiant act in the face of aggression.

Follow the film page on instagram https://www.instagram.com/ruleoftwowallsfilm/

KLONDIKE

After becoming the first Ukrainian filmmaker to receive the Sundance Award in World Cinema Dramatic Competition in 2022, Maryna Er Gorbach and her film “Klondike” collected various international awards and were Ukraine’s submission to the OSCARS 2022. This past Summer, “Klondike” had its U.S. theatrical release at the Angelika theater. Razom supported the film with a grant during its Oscars campaign.

You can now watch the film online!

Apple TV

Prime video

A BLIND GAME / ГРА В СЛІПОТУ

Ruslan Batytskyi with Anna Borysova created powerful videos that documented Razom’s work and its impact on the ground in Ukraine. Their short documentary highlights the resilience and unbreakable spirit of sportsmen with disabilities – their undying motivation and belief in themselves. You can watch the full film on YouTube for free.

A HOUSE MADE OF SPLINTERS

Another Razom supported film that made noise at the OSCARS 2023 after being nominated for Best Documentary Feature is the film directed by Simon Lereng Wilmont, co-produced by Ukrainian producers Darya Bassel and Vika Khomenko. The film follows the lives of children and the caregivers in an orphanage in Eastern Ukraine as the war in the region takes a heavy toll on families living nearby.

Razom helped assure there is a strong Ukrainian representation at the Oscars by providing a travel grant for the producers and caregivers featured in the documentary.

You can now watch the film on Apple TV

UKRAINIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL

If you didn’t get the chance to attend the film screenings during UCF this past fall, you are able to catch some of them on TAKFLIX – Ukraine’s first streaming service of all things Ukrainian Cinema.

Feature Film:

Pamfir: https://www.takflix.com/en/films/pamfir

Short Films:

Liturgy of Anti-tanks Obstacles: When Ukrainian Artists Prepare for War | Liturgy of Anti-Tank Obstacles | The New Yorker Documentary

I Didn’t Want To Make A War Film: I Did Not Want to Make a War Film | The New Yorker Documentary

Call Me Anytime, I’m Not Leaving The House: https://www.pbs.org/pov/films/callmeanytimeimnotleavingthehouse/

Diaper Cake: https://www.takflix.com/en/films/diaper-cake

Golden Leggings: https://www.takflix.com/en/films/gkchp

FREEDOM ON FIRE: UKRAINE’S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

Join us for a special screening of Evgeny Afineevsky’s documentary “Freedom on Fire” at the United Nations on February 20, 2024 at 6:30PM. Mark your calendars and keep an eye out for further announcements!

VESELKA – DOCUMENTARY

These dear friends of Razom are not only celebrating their 70th anniversary, but also the world premiere of documentary film “Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World” at Village East cinema.

VESELKA | Official Trailer (2024)

Join us on February 23, 2024 to support Veselka, their team, and their generational impact on the community.

Make sure to follow our newsletter and social media for more announcements!

Together, we can prove to cultural programmers that Ukrainian stories are necessary and that there is a large audience ready for them.

Дивимось і читаймо Українське Разом!