ROMAN KHIMEI (UA) & IRYNA KOVALCHUK (UA)

BIO ROMAN KHIMEI (UA), SCRIPTWRITER/DIRECTOR

Born in 1992, based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Graduated from the Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema and Television University (Faculty of Screen Arts). Roman works on the edge of visual art and cinema as an artist, director, and cinematographer. As a cinematographer works with dir. Philip Sotnychenko (Son, 2015, Odesa IFF FIPRESCI Prize, Clermont-Ferrand IFF; Nail, 2016, Best Ukrainian short film Odesa IFF). As a director and artist, he is working with Yarema Malashchuk. They were awarded the main award of the PinchukArtCentre Prize (2020), VISIO Young Talent Acquisition Prize (2021), as well as the Grand Prix at the Young Ukrainian Artists Award (MUHi 2019). Their debut documentary “New Jerusalem” premiered at Docudays UA International Film Festival 2020 and received the Special Mention Award at Kharkiv MeetDocs.

 

 

BIO IRYNA KOVALCHUK (UA), PRODUCER

Starting her career in 2014, Iryna is working on the edge of cinema and contemporary art. In March 2018, became the head of the Lviv Film Commission. In August 2019 she founded an independent film production RADAR FILMS, whose main goal is to develop local cinema and film talents.

 

 

PROJECT Eroica

After signing the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact in 1939, the Soviet army occupied Western Ukraine which back then was a part of the Polish Republic. Local Ukrainians are observing the coming of the Soviet regime, some with dreams about social equality, some with caution, and some with expectations. In one of the villages, the interaction between local Ukrainians and Soviets begins with a visit of a film crew who is filming a propaganda documentary. The film crew comes at the moment when Poles have already fled, so filmmakers decide to break down the door of a Polish house and film all bourgeois goodness inside. The local Ukrainians also want to come into the house together with a film crew to see the abundant life. Among them is Petro, a neglectful guy who talks too much. Locals are ignoring him and don’t let him come inside the building. While the villagers and the film crew are in the house, Petro decides to take revenge for being not welcome here.