Ukraine - Overcoming the Darkness

Within hours of Russia bombing Ukraine on February 24, 2022, a particular group of civilians began to mobilize. Ukrainian filmmakers, producers and technical crews flooded social media with messages to arm the streets with cameras and document the truth on the ground. A virtual film collective “Kinodopomoha” sprang into action, posting footage and sharing information from every frontline with a singular directive: “We See Everything.” The result is Ukraine - Overcoming the Darkness, an immediate, unblinking look at the first days of an alleged “special military operation.” From Irpin, Kyiv and Kharkiv, to Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia and Dmytrivka, cameras remain in shocking proximity to open fire. Soldiers hold onto both water-hoses and machine guns while battling fires. Volunteer-run factories run out of khaki material. Two soldiers get married on the battlefield, intent to carry on living. The destruction is heartbreaking but it is the determination of Ukrainians to resist that is made real.