A RISING FURY chronicles nearly a decade in the lives of Pavlo and Svitlana, two passionate Ukrainian idealists. They were filmed from Kyiv’s Revolution of Dignity in 2013 through the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. What begins as a hopeful protest evolves into an unrelenting fight for survival as their country is plunged into war. Against the backdrop of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and invasion of Donbas in 2014, this young couple navigates the harrowing realities of war. After losing his family home in Russian-occupied Donetsk, Pavlo joins the Ukrainian military, engaging in life-or-death battles, even against former friends. One such betrayal by a close friend reveals a hidden secret behind Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, one that was prepared as far back as 2007. This gripping documentary sheds light on the events that brought us to this moment in history and captures the resilience of the human spirit, offering an intimate, unflinching portrait of love in the face of unthinkable adversity.
Directed by:
Lesya Kalynska & Ruslan Batytskyi
Written by: Lesya Kalynska
Co-written by: TJ Collins
Produced by:
Lesya Kalynska
TJ Collins
Ruslan Batytskyi
Jonathan Borge Lie
Director of Photography: Ruslan Batytskyi
Original score by:
Emiliano Mazzenga
Edited by:
Araby Kelley
Lesya Kalynska
Ruslan Batytskyi
Cinematographers:
Anton Fursa, Taras Tomenko, Lesko Kromplitz,
Anton Yaremchuk, Ivan Fomichenko, Lesya Kalynska,
Anna Borysova, Yuri Dunay,
Taras Tkachenko, Anastasia Lysenko
Additional video recording: Pavlo Pavliv and Mykola Petkovych
Photographers: Sergey Mikhalchuk and Lesko Kromplitz
Music by:
Maryana Sadovska, Roman Turovsky,
Svyatoslav Vakharchuk (Ocean of Elza)
Ivan Lenyo, Volodymyr Sherstiuk (Kozak System)
Andriy Nidzelskyi, Anton Baibakov,
Petro Scazkiv, Greg Haines,
Chris Zabriskie, Mykola Leontovych
Sound Recording:
Andriy Nidzelskiy, Mykhailo Zakutskyi, Natasha Avramenko
Sound Design and Mix: Joe Sears and Andriy Nidzelskiy
Colorist: Sanjit Majumdar
Title and graphic design: Jesse Kerman
Impact Producers:
TJ Collins & Lesya Kalynska
Impact co-producers:
Dianna Derhak – Creator & Producer of “Sunflowers of Ukraine” campaign
Alexandra Zavadivska
Consultants:
Carol Dysinger, John Tintori, Etienne Kallos,
Shlomo Godder, Josh Green, Boris Frumin, Karin Hayes
Website and graphic design: Natasha Mikhalchuk
Assistant Editor: Olga Voytenko
Sponsors and Supporters
European organizations and funds supporting the project include:
IDFA Bertha Fund, Netherlands
Sorfond, The Norwegian South Film Fund, Norway
The Fritt Ord Foundation, Norway
Bertha Doc Society Journalism Fund, UK
Finport Technologies, Ukraine
Sundance Institute Documentary Film Fund
UNWLA: Ukrainian National Women's League of America
UCCA: Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
Murray State University
Still Point Foundation
Razom for Ukraine
Shevchenko Scientific Society
UABPA: Ukrainian American Business &Professional Association
Diannaderhak.com
Michael and Nadia Kalinski,
Leonard and Helena Mazur,
Dianna Derhak,
Alexandra & Anya Zawadiwsky
Additional support in US by:
New York University
The Gotham Film and Media Institute
Women Make Movies
New York University
The Gotham Film and Media Institute
Women Make Movies
The Ukrainian Museum in New York City
Ukrainian Film Club at Columbia University
Consulate General of Ukraine in New York
Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco
Consulate General of Ukraine in Chicago
UNA, Plast, CYM
Leleka Foundation
UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
New Use Energy
Brighter Ukraine Foundation
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