The American Cinematheque is proud to present a selection of timely films made in Ukraine in collaboration with local Ukrainian filmmakers. Showcasing a dynamic breadth of films that represent the small but mighty Ukrainian film industry before the Russian attacks on Ukraine, we invite audience members to reflect on the beauty and history of Ukrainian culture and cinema. KLONDIKE, Ukraine’s official entry for best international feature film to the 95th Annual Academy Awards, tells the story a Ukrainian family living on the border of Ukraine-Russia during the start of the war. Called an “exhilarating piece of cinema” and “one of the stronger dramatizations of this crucial moment in recent history” by major outlets, KLONDIKE BETWEEN US is director Solomiia Tomashchuk’s feature film debut in the psychological thriller genre. The story centers around the choice one has to make between loved ones and morality when there is no other option. The film’s two main characters, Sasha and Anya, are forced to make this choice: Sasha toward her husband and Anya toward her son. The drama of the situation is exacerbated when they become involved in a grave crime. TERYKONY follows the character Nastya when three missiles fired by the Russian army hit her house on New Year’s Eve. She survived but lost her father, childhood, and faith in life. For her, the war has become something commonplace, like the landscape outside the window – yet Nastya has dreams. Like every girl, she dreams of a new house and a dog and keeps on writing letters to Santa asking him to bring her father back. According to official statistics, approximately 10,000 children currently reside in the Donbas warzone. CHUZHAYA MOLITVA is the incredible true story of a young Crimean Tatar girl who, during the occupation of Bakhchysaray by the fascist army, saved the lives of 88 Jewish children. Saide is working as a teacher in an orphanage when a boy named Itzhak turns to her for help as he and other Jewish children hide from fascists. She faces a hard moral dilemma – should she help the children or save her own life and refuse? Please join us for these special screenings and video introductions from the various filmmakers. Special thanks to all the producers, filmmakers, and distributors for making this series possible.