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En Pointe Soldiers - Ukrainian Dancers in anti-war documentary
En Pointe Soldiers - Teaser
Hi, my name is Lucas. I am making an anti-war documentary with a group of the finest artists, the most talented ballet dancers from all over Ukraine. The dancers come from cities and regions such as Crimea, Mykolayiv, Dnipro, Bucha, Kyiv, Donetsk.
Together, they are dancing on stage against the war and to promote peace.
With your support, I'd love both to finish the film and to help the dancers by bringing them on a freedom tour to western Europe and to the United Nations's HQ.
Arts and culture are among the first things to lose funding in a conflict torn country. And yet, in time of war the arts are ever more important. Through dance, our ballet stars will share their story and their suffering, and keep the pride of their nation alive.
Just because we don't see much news of Ukraine on TV, it doesn't mean the war and suffering is over. By making the film, I hope we can open discussions that promote culture and humanity across different societies around the world.
Please support me in my journey if you can.
What’s in it for you?
You will receive regular updates about the making of the film from Ukraine and from the UK
You will get a chance to view the finished film for free, either online or at a screening
You will be credited in the end credits of the film (unless you wish to remain anonymous)
Brief film synopsis
En Pointe Soldiers is a beautiful, compelling human story.
The terrible, inescapable context to it is the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on 24 February 2022.
By looking at the daily lives of a small group of highly talented dancers, the film gives a glimpse at the untold story of the effect of the war on Ukrainian citizens. Every family is touched by the war, and most families were abruptly and painfully split apart by it.
A young prima ballerina puts it succinctly in the film when she says: ‘Dance is our weapon’.
This is why they are En Pointe Soldiers: soldiers wearing ballet shoes.
Ballet is a means of communicating Ukraine’s story to a war-weary world, on their Freedom Tour through Europe, and potentially beyond.
The En Pointe Soldiers communicate Ukraine’s resistance, where words fail.
How the money will be divided:
1. Ukraine's field trip and shoot on location with the dancers in their private environment, at rehearsals and while performing at different operas, theatres, schools and places with a stage.
2. It will secure our music score with a great composer and a friend, from London and from Kyiv
3. It will allow to pay Ukrainian people in the UK for translations and subtitles
4. Post production + colour grade
5. Festival circuit - I'd love to submit to as many festivals as possible for multi-screenings to raise awareness and provoke talking points with the artists being present. This is very costly but very necessary to start discussions and exchange thoughts.
6. Logistics, equipment rental, local Ukrainian crews who also need to get paid.
7. Output into DCP for cinemas in the US and the UK, graphics, posters, website, obtaining copy-rights and certification for broadcast with geographical territory
8. Legal costs
“No-raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe"
Organizer