documentary project
Since his successful directorial debut 12 years ago, Maks has never made another film. And he has quite some reasons. The job of a commercial editor that he hates, his family’s high standards, and the mid-life crisis are just a few of them. One day, Maks finally starts a new project – he decides to repair a 1986 Volkswagen Golf himself. In a cramped garage, Maks hopes to fix not only the old engine but also his life.
His wife Maryna is also a film director, she is observing him through the lens of her camera. This way her presence is silent and invisible, though her patient gaze hopes to see a happy ending in her husband’s story.
At the end of 2021, Maks’ project ultimately ends with a triumph, and his car starts.
When Russia starts a full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022, he takes Maryna to the state border in his repaired Volkswagen, and then goes back to Kyiv and becomes a volunteer driver.
A few months later, Maryna decides to come back. The war continues. But in such dark times, there is hope that it becomes clearer what a happy life really is.
PROJECT TEAM
MARYNA NICKOLCHEVA, scriptwriter
A film director, cinematographer, and editor.
Maryna is an emerging Ukrainian indie film director. She studied architecture. In 2017, after studying at the Maysternia.DOC Serhiy Bukovsky Film Programme, she turned to filmmaking. Currently, Maryna’s filmography includes short documentaries screened at the most prestigious Ukrainian film festivals: (re)dress (2018, Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival and Odesa IFF), Glory to Mstyslav (2020, Odesa IFF, Molodist Kyiv IFF, and Riga IFF).
OLEKSANDRA KRAVCHENKO, producer
She got her master’s degree in Cultural Studies at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Since 2011, she has worked in the film industry – as a communications director (Arthouse Traffic film distribution company, Odesa International Film Festival), executive marketing manager (Animagrad animation studio / FILM.UA Group), independent producer (DGTL RLGN, Albatros Communicos, Moon Man).
ROSES: FILM-CABARET, 2021
DIR. IRENA STETSENKO
Ukraine / DGTL RLGN
documentary feature film, 78 min.
Won the Andriy Matrosov Award at Docudays UA.
Participated in main competitions of Sheffield Doc/Fest, Odesa International Film Festival, Astra Film Festival, Epos International Art Film Festival, Master of Art Film Festival, Mittel Punkt Europa Filmfest, HER Docs, and many others.
PHASE, 2021
DIR. MYKOLA ZASEEV
Ukraine / DGTL RLGN
short film, 20 min.
Premiered at the Molodist Kyiv International Film Festival.
LAGOONS. BATTLE FOR PARADISE, post-production
DIR. SERHIY LYSENKO
Ukraine / Albatros Communicos
documentary feature film, 75 min.
Won the award of the East Doc Platform.