SPACE Production

The co-owner and general producer of SPACE Production Daria Leygonie Fialko shares the secret behind our team's success: “In good times and bad. In protective masks and to the hum of generators. On film sets and in the office. Five years ago and now. Every single day. The SPACE team—people who give me the strength to keep moving forward.” #SPACEproduction #production

Kateryna Laskari, co-owner and producer at SPACE Production: "Despite the challenges of war, the Ukrainian film industry has shown incredible resilience and creative potential. Today, our film crews operate under conditions where pauses due to air raid alarms have become a routine part of the production process. Yet, these obstacles have only strengthened the professionalism and endurance of Ukrainian filmmakers." Pausing filming due to air raid sirens, taking brief shelter, and then resuming work has become the new reality of our film production. However, this experience—combining extreme conditions with a deep understanding of art—makes Ukrainian films and scripts particularly valuable to international audiences. Financial indicators also point to the growing popularity of Ukrainian cinema. In the first half of 2023, domestically produced films grossed 192 million UAH, which is 12 million more than in 2019, the most successful year for Ukrainian box office. The share of Ukrainian films in the market has also increased. Before the war, they accounted for only 4-7% of total box office revenue, but in 2022, this figure rose to 27%. This shows a heightened interest in national content from both domestic and international audiences. A significant event was the international recognition of Ukrainian cinema. For example, the world premiere of Olesya Morgunets-Isayenko's drama "Carol of the Bells" took place in Warsaw in spring 2022 as part of the CinemAid Ukraine charity film marathon, and it was later shown in Israel and the USA. Another example is the premiere of Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk's film "Pamfir" at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received a six-minute standing ovation. These are not just films—they are works of art born from struggle and resilience. The combination of unique life experiences with high professional craftsmanship enables Ukrainian filmmakers to create content that stands out for its depth, emotionality, and originality. Ukrainian cinema is about truth, sharpness, and a new vision that captivates a global audience. #SPACEproduction #production

Today, we celebrate Ukrainian Cinema Day, a part of European art that for some time remained a terra incognita for the world. Odessa-based mechanic Yosyp Tymchenko was not a step behind his American colleague Thomas Edison or his British counterpart Robert Paul in the invention of the cinematograph. And just a year after the Lumière brothers screened «The Arrival of a Train», Ukrainian photographer Alfred Fedetsky was already showing local audiences scenes filmed on the streets of Kharkiv. For over 70 years, Ukrainian cinema endured repression and restrictions from the political authorities of the Soviet Union and Russian censors. In 1930, Oleksandr Dovzhenko made «Earth», a film that, over time, became a legend and was included in UNESCO's top five masterpieces of world cinema. Yet at the time, it was banned from public screening. «Well for the Thirsty», a 1966 Ukrainian surrealist film that marked the debut of screenwriter Ivan Drach and director Yuri Illienko, was banned for 22 years. The incredible surrealist comedy «The Lost Letter» was subjected to dozens of re-edits by censors, and even after that, it was never released in theaters. Ukrainian cinema fought through bans, waiting on the shelves, and in the end, it triumphed—it always found a way. Happy Ukrainian Cinema Day! #MAKE_UKRAINIAN_IDENTITY_BLOOM #SPACEproduction

During the toughest times, SPACE production and our team never stopped pursuing achievements in creating creative projects and participating in significant events. So, how productively we spent the summer, despite everything... 1. Our executive producers, Daria Leygonie Fialko and Kateryna Laskari, attended the event to support Ukrainian playwright Natalka Vorozhbyt. Her now iconic play for the Ukrainian stage, "Sasha, Take Out the Trash," was presented in French for the first time. 2. With the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in Egypt, our Ukrainian-German documentary *"Art in War"* (known in Germany as "Kulturkrieg – Kunst als Waffe") was screened at the German Embassy residence in Cairo. 3. Our series "C.O.D.E." — after a year of preparation and several delays due to missile strikes — finally premiered in April 2024 and became the most successful television premiere on STB TV Channel. Throughout the summer, it not only maintained its momentum but consistently ranked at the top of TV viewership charts. The "C.O.D.E." banner even adorned the largest screen in Kyiv. We’re thrilled that our audience embraced this project so warmly. 4."C.O.D.E." was successfully showcased at NATPE Budapest 2024, which provided us with a great opportunity to meet key players in the television industry, including distributors, producers, and potential buyers from around the world. 5. We proudly recall the feature about SPACE Production in World Screen and how TVBIZZ Magazine highlighted our series "C.O.D.E." n their article "Ukraine’s SPACE Production Makes a Splash at NATPE Budapest." Meanwhile, in Ukraine, a monumental event took place — the revival of the literary and artistic journal "Kino-Kolo" and we were delighted to be featured in its pages and congratulate Anna Sherman at the presentation of the first issue. The miracle of restoring Ukrainian artistic periodicals had happened! 6. One of the important initiatives of SPACE production was the screenwriting contest we announced on social media. We received a large number of talented, interesting, and amazing submissions, and we are confident that some of them will become unique projects we’ll tell you about in the future! 7. No matter how grand our creative plans are, we never forget the rule: “Put on your own oxygen mask first, then help others.” In our case, it’s not an oxygen mask but a tourniquet to stop bleeding. In today’s world, this skill is literally life-saving. That’s why we conducted tactical medicine training for the SPACE production team. 8. This summer, we managed to shoot in Kyiv, Lviv, Paris, and London. 9. Amid this packed schedule, we also prepared for an active working autumn with new projects, trips, and ideas, which we will definitely share with you soon. The summer at SPACE Production was a vivid example of our mission — to tell the world the truth about Ukraine through art and cinema. We keep moving forward, and this is just the beginning. #SPACEproduction #production

On August 24, Ukraine celebrates Independence Day. Today, members of the film and television industries are actively involved in the defense of the country: some have taken up arms instead of cameras, others have become volunteers. And some act as the voice of our nation on international art platforms. For example, Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, the director of "Pamfir," used his presence at the European Film Awards 2022 to call for the release of Ukrainian journalist and soldier Maksym Butkevych from Russian captivity. Today, with amazement and pride, we are rediscovering our cultural memory. We remind ourselves that Ukrainian art, and cinema in particular, has preserved our cultural code for centuries, even when we had no opportunities to speak about our statehood. From 1893, when Ukrainian engineer Yosyp Tymchenko created the "kinescope," to the pioneers of cinematic language like Oleksandr Dovzhenko and Serhiy Parajanov, who brought Ukrainian cinema to the global stage. With the achievement of our state independence in 1991, we entered a new historical period. During this time, Ukrainian cinema has experienced both declines—when the market was drowning in total Russification—and rises, when independent studios began to emerge one after another. Ukrainian films made a loud statement at international festivals. Stepan Koval's "Tram #9" won the Silver Bear in Berlin, and Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi's "The Tribe" won several awards in Cannes. The voices of Ukrainian filmmakers have been increasingly heard on the global art scene. The Revolution of Dignity, the Russian occupation of Crimea and parts of Donbas, the full-scale war—Ukrainian cinema captures and preserves all the most challenging milestones of our history, records every step, offers solace, understanding, and artistic reflection. Another year of celebrating Ukraine's Independence Day is a wonderful opportunity to once again reflect on the journey of our national cinema. It is the path of people who, against all odds, in any era, remain committed to their mission: telling stories that give us the strength to stay courageous and resilient. SPACE Production Kateryna Laskari #MakeUkrainianIdentityBloom

The war has led to a significant personnel shortage in many professions, including the film industry. The lack of specialists in technical fields – specifically, camera operators, mechanics, and gaffers – is creating a serious challenge for our sector. As Daria Leygonie Fialko notes, “Some experts even tend to call this a ‘personnel famine.’ A year ago, 24% of businesses were already reporting an acute shortage of staff. This year, according to various estimates, that figure ranges between 32-50%. I also mentally add the fact that our industry has long been plagued by the presence of so-called ‘male professions.’” At SPACE Production, we believe that this challenge is an opportunity for change. That's why we’re happy to share that we've launched an educational and practical course to train camera mechanics and lighting technicians. This course not only helps fill critical staffing gaps but also reflects our stance as a responsible business actively working to nurture new specialists. We are actively dispelling stereotypes associated with male-dominated professions, and we're excited to announce that among our first students is a woman. This is not just a nod to the idea of equality but also a reflection of modern Ukrainian trends. In the midst of the war's tragedy, we see this development as an opportunity for inclusion and progress. Our goal is not only to train new specialists but also to create an environment where equality and diversity are the norm. We are confident this will be a significant step toward a future where our new professionals will make a substantial contribution to the industry's growth. Follow us and support our initiatives. This is just the beginning of our journey to new achievements! Make Ukrainian Identity Bloom. #SPACEproduction #filmproduction

This week, SPACE Production took an important step in developing corporate culture by organizing a tactical medicine training session for its employees. This event is not just a corporate initiative but a strategic approach to team care, with a real impact on daily life and work efficiency. The training was conducted by a certified instructor who typically trains military personnel but adapted the course for civilians during wartime. Our employees learned about the MARCH protocol and practiced applying tourniquets, wound packing, checking breathing, and clearing airways. We also covered first aid for strokes, seizures, choking, and loss of consciousness. We practiced evacuating casualties and performing CPR until emergency services arrive. In today’s unpredictable and stressful Ukrainian business environment, knowing how to act in critical situations is not just a necessity but an advantage. This training helps reduce anxiety and boosts confidence in challenging circumstances. Space Production believes that such initiatives are key to building a resilient and prepared team ready for any challenges. Investing in employees' knowledge and skills is not only about their safety but also a crucial part of our corporate strategy, contributing to the overall success and growth of the company. We’ve concluded that regular practice of critical skills is essential and that tourniquets should be included in driver’s first aid kits. The goal is for as many people as possible to be ready to act decisively in difficult situations and provide assistance. #SPACEproduction

Every time it seems that external circumstances are pulling the emergency brake on the development of Ukrainian cinema, Ukrainian artists, against all odds, find the strength and means to keep moving the train forward. Neither COVID-19 nor the large-scale war has stopped Ukrainian art, whose "time has come." This was once again demonstrated by the 15th Odesa International Film Festival which became not just a significant film event, but a declaration, a symbol of our people's resilience and perseverance. The executive producer of SPACE Production, Kateryna Laskari noted that this year at the Odesa International Film Festival, the significance of the Ukrainian retrospective in the festival program was particularly striking. In her opinion, this indicates that we all have a demand not only for the development of contemporary cinema but also for active self-identification through art: "An absolute blossoming of love for domestic cinema and the study of its history! One might think that Oleksandr Dovzhenko, Kira Muratova, and Serhiy Parajanov would be thrilled. It is very painful that our process of identification and its sharp activation are partly due to the terrible war that consumes so many of our best people, including film artists. This harsh reality is depriving our cinematic tradition of many talented and promising individuals right before our eyes. At the same time, it forces us to value every story, every frame created today by our filmmakers, filled with pain, love, and a desire for a better future." No matter how difficult each new day is, Space Production gladly welcomes all events that indicate this movement and continues uninterrupted filming both in Ukraine and abroad. #SPACEproduction #filmproduction

Today marks the conclusion of the 15th Odesa International Film Festival, an event that holds a special place in the hearts of many filmmakers. Daria Leygonie Fialko, co-founder of SPACE Production, has been following it since 2010. Reflecting on the early years of the festival, she notes: "Back then, it felt like we had joined the flow of global film processes, that everything important was concentrated in Odesa. And it was true: Krzysztof Zanussi, John Malkovich, Claudia Cardinale, Geraldine Chaplin, Peter Greenaway, Cillian Murphy, Catherine Deneuve, Thierry Frémaux, Kira Muratova – Odesa became a center of attraction for filmmakers of global stature." Particularly memorable for Daria was the premiere of the documentary film "Klitschko" at the second OIFF. And here is why: "We could not have imagined that 11 years later, our SPACE Production would meet with Leopold Hoesch (the producer of that very film about the Klitschko brothers) to collaborate on the documentary 'ART in WAR.'" - Daria Legoni-Fialko shares this extraordinary connection through the years. Today, the 15th OIFF is taking place in Kyiv instead of Odesa due to shelling. But despite all the challenges, the important thing is that the OIFF continues, preserving its spirit and significance for Ukrainian and global cinema. #ОМКФ2024 # OIFF2024 #SPACEproduction #filmmaking #filmproduction

After a 16-year break, the magazine 'KINO-KOLO' has been revived under the title 'Ukraine in Flames,' featuring interviews with Kateryna Laskari and Daria Leygonie Fialko. The magazine was published for 11 years, from 1997 to 2008, and was a significant part of the Ukrainian cinematic landscape. At the end of 2021, Hanna Sherman, the director of the publishing house "Antikvar," undertook the revival of the publication. Maria Ryapulova, a creative producer at SPACE Production, journalist, and theater critic, aptly describes the fundamental value of the magazine's return to the Ukrainian cultural space in her article for Detector Media: "... how important it is to maintain a connection with the past and the future while sitting in the dark present." Even when we talk about the future after victory, it seems like a story about the past. Daria Leygonie Fialko and Kateryna Laskari discussing current trends and prospects, still refer to memories of how things were before February 2022. It is difficult to rely on the present. The present is uncertain. Everything happening now, including filming during blackouts, planning international distribution, and searching for new script solutions, only matters in the context of the past. This is the present from which it is difficult to look back and forward. But it is necessary. Our congratulations extend to everyone involved in the release of “KINO-KOLO”.