The Golden Gates

Chubai. Speaking Again

January 2023 •Ukrainian

A theatrical documentary about Hrytsko Chubai, a genius of Ukrainian poetry, a connoisseur of literature, art and music and the brightest representative of Lviv underground culture of late 60s early 70s.

Der Maler Willi Sitte - Ein Leben zwischen Kunst und Politik

November 2021 •German

The Gulag Archipelago: The Book That Changed Russian History

November 2023 •French

The story of Russian writer and Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008) and his masterpiece, The Gulag Archipelago, published in Paris in 1973, which forever shook the very foundations of communist ideology.

V. Silvestrov

September 2022 •Ukrainian

There is a rumor in the Kyiv musical community: once upon a time, in private conversation, Queen Elizabeth II mentioned Valentyn Silvestrov as one of her favorite composers of the modern age. The Royal Press Office hasn’t confirmed it, so no one knows for sure. But the stature of Silvestrov justifies this rumor. Highly respected by the world’s best music professionals, he remains a mystery for a wide audience. The documentary is far from a traditional biopic about a prominent person. It is an observation, a confession and, most of all, a story of great talent set against the backdrop of uncertain times.

Ancestral Code

November 2020 •Ukrainian

The documentary film ANCESTRAL CODE is a research into the origins of the Ukrainian and Belarusian peoples, the search for their identity through the study of the melodism of Slavic ethnographic heritage. Nowadays many people talk about brotherhood, spiritual intimacy, affinity. The authors analyze the connection between the neighboring peoples of Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus and Poland through music and folklore.

Cultural Code of Ukraine: East

February 2023 •Ukrainian

The project is set in eastern Ukraine, where the main characters live — representatives of different professions, who have chosen culture as the meaning and business of their lives. They are the creators and keepers of the national cultural code. The authors study what exactly is passed down from generation to generation, and what meanings are hidden in it.

Back to Basics.Wedding

October 2020 •Ukrainian

Full-length documentary about wedding customs and rites from different parts of Ukraine. This film will immerse the viewer in the world of rich, striking and diverse wedding culture of 8 regions of the country: Kyiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia, Kharkiv, Rivne and Chernivtsi.

Who are we? Psychoanalysis of Ukrainians

December 2021 •Ukrainian

Ukraïner. The Movie

November 2019 •Ukrainian

The story of the everyday life of one of the most unknown countries on the European continent. The film tells the stories of heroes from different parts of Ukraine, their life and life, crafts and art, interesting initiatives and culture. The characters of this film are not interconnected, their worlds are different, however, this difference unites the country.

Ivan and Marta

November 2023 •Ukrainian

Ivan Dziuba - literary critic, public figure, academician of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine - belongs to the "sixties". He fully takes care of all the miscalculations and unfulfilled promises of his generation. Reflects on why the illusions were lost and why so few dreams came true ... Let's see and listen to him with his wife Martha, a Lviv woman who was his guardian angel. Together - all life. Exactly as they are, the right is the definition - the conscience of the nation.

Andrey Tarkovsky. A Cinema Prayer

October 2019 •Russian

An account of the life and work of Russian filmmaker Andrey Tarkovsky (1932-86) in his own words: his memories, his vision of art and his reflections on the fate of the artist and the meaning of human existence; through extremely rare audio recordings that allow a complete understanding of his inner life and the mysterious world existing behind his complex cinematic imagery.

Mustache Funk

June 2021 •Ukrainian

The early 70s is a golden epoch of our popular music. Hundreds of songs of exquisite beauty. Groundbreaking sound. Futuristic suits. How and whence could all of this emerge in a Soviet socialist republic? How did a brand new music scene, original in sound and philosophy in every way, and at the same time absolutely in sync with global music trends come forth? They weren't that fond of the Soviet label «VIA». And since neither of us is fond of this acronym, let us rechristen this music.

The Diary of Florica S.

January 1975 •Romanian

Director Eugenia Gutu offers a feminist critique of gender (in)equality under socialism in this documentary portrait of an industrializing town and its model citizen, Florica S.

Ten notes that changed Ukraine

July 2020 •Ukrainian

The work of the outstanding composer, who passed away on 1 June this year, is known not only in Ukraine but also far beyond its borders, his music is recognisable, and his works are often performed on the Ukrainian stage. However, Myroslav Skoryk's personality, creative temperament, tastes, and life guidelines have largely remained behind the scenes of the concert stage

Vertep

January 2022 •Ukrainian

A touching and almost festive story about how to remain optimistic and continue to do your job, despite all the hardships of the times. One of the film's main characters is a chaplain, a current priest of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Dmytro Povorotnyi. He invites musicians with guitars to travel to military locations in Donbas. The entire musical tour led by the chaplain takes place in one day. The chaplain and the musicians are accompanied by a film crew from Suspilne Culture. The film, which was supposed to tell about a New Year's Eve volunteer trip to the military in the grey zone, became a story about mercy, understanding of need and help as a state.

Weaving Way

September 2021 •Ukrainian

A full, bright, and inspiring documentary about folk weaving as a part of the Ukrainian cultural heritage. Is a story about Ukrainian identity, understood through the aesthetics of various weaving products and their use in rituals. The film consists of 8 novel-episodes, each of which tells about a variety of folk weaving (“Polotno”, “Rushnyk”, “Namitka”, “Plakhta and obhortka”, “Kraika”, “Lizhnik”, “Gunia”, “Kylym”).

Slovo House

November 2017 •Ukrainian

Chain-smoking artists, poets and playwrights were among the colourful array of intellectuals living in the ‘Slovo House’ in 1920s Ukraine. The communist paradise was built under Stalin's approval, but it quickly became a prison. The brutal Soviet regime spied on the inhabitants, destroying their eccentric way of life and sealing their fate. This fascinating film explores the extraordinary story of the building and its residents.

Спадок нації

May 2019 •Ukrainian

The first documentary about vyshyvankas (Ukrainian embroidered shirts). Everyone has their own vyshyvanka. But there is one most valuable for everyone.

Grandmother Told Grandmother

October 2018 •English

The little-known story of Ukrainian children torn from their homes in the crush between the Nazi and Soviet fronts in World War II. Spending their childhood as refugees in Europe, these inspiring individuals later immigrated to the United States, creating new homes and communities through their grit, faith and deep belief in the importance of preserving culture.

The Ivasyuk phenomenon

May 2023 •Ukrainian

‘The Ivasyuk Phenomenon is a documentary video essay that has been created over the past three months. In the video, we will introduce you to Volodymyr Ivasyuk, a young, creative and stylish musician, as well as his songs, which changed the rules of the game in the music scene and still sound great today. And although everyone has heard his ‘Chervona Ruta’, unfortunately, few people are familiar with the rest of his work. About 100 songs and 50 instrumental pieces. We hope that after this hour-long acquaintance, you will add a few new tracks to your playlist and have another example in your heart that Ukrainians are damn cool.