The Ukrainian premiere of This is also Ukraine- an extraordinary short film by young people directly impacted by the full-scale invasion.

Daria, Hanna, Kira, Olexa, Rost, Sasha, Vlada, Vlada, Vesna, and Zakhar are ten teenagers who like Radiohead, making art, swimming, dating, watching films, and hanging out with their friends. They also live close to the front line.

Duration of the films: 45 + conversation

💬 After the screening, there will be an opportunity to talk with the entire project team: the British artists and mentors, as well as the Ukrainian teenagers who created the film.

❗ Trigger/content warning: depictions of war, blood, death, violence, murder, russian language l

The film was produced within the Balmy Ukraine project, part of the UK-based Balmy Army initiative by the vacuum cleaner, and delivered in partnership with the British Council Ukraine, the NGO Independent Cultural Initiatives, and Art Therapy Force.

In the spring of 2025, these ten young people began filming, writing, singing, dancing, hugging, laughing, crying and meeting up to make a film about their lives –supported by a team of Ukrainian and British artists, psychologists, and producers. See how these young people have cared for and supported each other to explore their thoughts and feelings on identity, belonging, love, rage and living in the face of, and despite, constant danger. 

This is also Ukraine is a poetic, patchwork film of their lives from their point of view: unfiltered, normal and equally extraordinary.

The film premiered at the Manchester International Festival MIF25 (UK) in July 2025, sparking strong emotions and heartfelt responses from the audience.

This is also Ukraine shows the reality, hopes and challenges of a being a teenager, and of experiences that go unheard while the horror and stupidity of war unfolds. It is also really silly at times because, y’know, balance is important.