Dmytro Hreshko
Divia
The terrifying beauty of Ukrainian nature's massive destruction during the Russian full-scale invasion.
SYNOPSIS
DIVIA documentary reveals Ukraine's harrowing journey through unprecedented Russian aggression and its haunting aftermath: forests reduced to ash, fields damaged by explosions, and the lingering presence of abandoned military wreckage amidst treacherous minefields. Amidst this desolation, nature stands as a silent witness, absorbing and beginning to heal from the scars of conflict. The meditative narrative, without any dialogues, follows deminers, body searchers, environmentalists, and animal activists who navigate the wreckage, striving to quantify the tragedy's impact and restore Ukraine's fragile ecosystems.
DIRECTOR
Dmytro Hreshko
PRODUCERS
Polina Herman
Glib Lukianets
CO-PRODUCER
Richard Valk
EDITOR
Anastasia Kirillova
PRODUCTION COMPANIES
Gogol Film
UP UA Studio
CO-PRODUCTION COMPANY
Valk Productions
COUNTRIES
Poland
Ukraine
Netherlands
LENGTH
80 min
Dmytro Hreshko
DMYTRO HRESHKO is an eco-activist, cinematographer and director. His short film SAVE ME, DOCTOR! (2020) received the award Best Ukrainian Film of 2020 at the 14th Lviv International Short Film Festival Wiz Art and a special jury award at the Kyiv International Film Festival Molodist. His first full-length documentary film MOUNTAINS AND HEAVEN IN BETWEEN (2021) was premiered at the 19 Docudays UA. Its international premiere took place at Sheffield DocFest, and it was screened at FIPADOC, DOK Leipzig, and the Krakow Film Festival. He is a regular participant of international workshops and pitchings like Sunny Side of the Doc, DOK Leipzig Co-Pro Market, The Baltic Sea Docs, East Doc Platform, CEDOC Market, and Eurodoc. He is also a member of the Ukrainian Association of Cinematographers and the Ukrainian Film Academy.
The destruction of nature is a significant part of the cost we Ukrainians pay for our freedom from Russia, which views nature and the world around it merely as resources for exploitation and expansion. Documenting the Russian military's eco-crimes and the destruction of natural landscapes and ecosystems is crucial. Understanding the scope of these issues is the first step toward solving them. While environmental concerns might not be a priority for Ukrainians amidst pressing issues, neglecting them could threaten our lives more than anticipated. The title DIVIA should serve as the symbol of the ancient Slavic goddess of nature and all living things, who is opposed to war, destruction, and death.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Polina Herman
POLINA HERMAN is a Ukrainian film producer. Since 2016, she had founded her own production company UP UA Studio, aimed at supporting Ukrainian cinema. In 2023, she founded the company UP USA Studio in Los Angeles, where she has been living since 2022. She moved there after the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion. Polina is a member of several film academies and guilds, including the Television Academy, Producers Guild of America and the European Film Academy. She is also a member of the Ukrainian Film Academy. Her filmography includes documentaries THE PRICE OF CONFLICT (2022), KING LEAR: HOW WE LOOKED FOR LOVE DURING THE WAR (2023), MOUNTAINS IN HEAVEN IN BETWEEN (2021), and the feature film BETWEEN US (2021).
Glib Lukianets
GLIB LUKIANETS is a Ukrainian-Polish film producer and the founder of Gogol Foundation, an emerging facilitator of East European projects with production companies in Poland and Ukraine. His works have garnered recognition from the documentary community and have received multiple awards at events such as IDFA Forum, DOK Leipzig, FIPADOC, Sunny Side of the Doc, and East Doc Platform. Glib Lukianets is currently based in Łódź. Since 2023, he has been an expert of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.
Richard Valk
RICHARD VALK is a director and producer, founder of Valk Productions (1992). After several television programmes and different short as well as long fiction films and documentaries, Valk Productions is now producing short artistic animation projects like IT’S NICE IN HERE (2022) by Robert-Jonathan Koeyers. The film premiered at the 61st Semaine de la Critique in Cannes and was shortlisted for the 95th Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film. Additionally, Douwe Dijkstra’s NEIGHBOUR ABDI (2022) won Leopards of Tomorrow at Locarno IFF.
DIVIA is an immersive documentary journey exploring the relationship between nature and war's harsh realities. Inspired by works like Godfrey Reggio's KOYAANISQATSI (1982) and Serhii Loznitsa's THE NATURAL HISTORY OF DESTRUCTION (2022), the film draws both local and global parallels. Due to the involvement of volunteers, the early production costs were low. Engaged military and civilians supported the team, directed by Dmytro Hreshko. As we proceed with public and private funds, we face challenges in editing, music, and post-production. Presenting at the United Nations and industry events, we've secured partnerships with Tint (for color grading) and composer Sam Slater. DIVIA is a production of Ukraine, Poland, and the Netherlands with national funding. We are negotiating with the European Space Agency for satellite footage and collaborating with the Ministry of Ecology of Ukraine. Our goal is to be ready for festival selections by August 2024, targeting premieres at IDFA, Sundance, Berlinale, and CPH:DOX. The film targets audiences concerned with nature, ecology and war damage. We aim for a green production and to minimise our ecological footprints during production. Director Dmytro Hreshko and the team ensure sustainable practices like reducing plastic use and prioritizing online meetings and train travel for industry events.
PRODUCER’S STATEMENT
Production company profile
UP UA STUDIO is a Ukrainian film company founded in 2016 by producer Polina Herman. The film company produces both short and full-length feature and documentary films, catering to festival-formats and a broad audience. The company can provide a complete cycle of film production and can develop projects in the audiovisual sector. It also hosts vast film events aimed at the promotion of Ukrainian cinema.
GOGOL FOUNDATION is a pro-bono facilitator of cultural projects and an NGO operating in Eastern Europe, including two production companies in Poland and Ukraine. Gogol Film (Poland) and Gogol Vertigo™ (Ukraine) produce their own documentaries and fiction films in co-production with partners, focusing on social issues and art. Working with directors from different countries, Gogol Foundation scales the dialogue presented at the events like IDFA, DOK Leipzig, Cannes, and Berlinale.
Where are we at?
PRODUCTION BUDGET
439.820 €
NEEDED FOR COMPLETION
100.000 €
TERRITORIES AVAILABLE
World (excluding Greece and Germany)
EXPECTED RELEASE
Spring 2025
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