Netflix provides funding for 48 Ukrainian films and series

• In partnership with Ukrainian Film Academy, Netflix streaming service provided grant programs to support Ukrainians in the Arts.
• The Ukrainian Film Academy selected 48 projects that will receive funds from Netflix to create and develop their scripts.
• Each project, represented by a producer and screenwriter, will receive grants of $15,000 for screen development.

Netflix supports creatives in Ukraine by providing a $15,000 grant for film projects and series. In partnership with Ukrainian Film Academy, Netflix assists Ukrainian creatives who have suffered and been displaced during the recent wars.

A total of 717 projects participated in this program, but 48 projects were selected. These 48 projects consisted of producers and screenwriters who received funding for script development. Also, they will have the opportunity of joining exclusive online sessions with leading experts in the Arts. 

These online sessions will include discussions regarding the evolution of television genres, storytelling in non-fiction series, pitching a feature-length and TV film, and creating attractive characters. UCLA film faculty Alex Franklin will host these online sessions, Screenwriter Barbara Nance, Netflix International Originals Christopher Mack, television critic David Bianculli, executive producer and television coach Joe Wolfe. Consider the Ukraine projects that are eligible for the grant.

Original feature-length film

In this category, 370 feature films were submitted. Yet, only 16 original films are receiving grants from Netflix and the Ukrainian Film Academy.

1. Azovstal, screenwriter By Sentsov, producer Denys Ivanov;
2. Antonivka (tentative title), screenwriter Kateryna Hornostay, producer Vika Khomenko;
3. Intervention, screenwriter Yevhen Tunik, producer Oleksii Hladushevskyi;
4. For Victory!, screenwriter Valentyn Vasyanovych, producer Iya Myslitska;
5. The Golden Lion di Ivan Kupala, scriptwriter Daria Onishchenko, producer Pylyp Illenko;
6. Odesa-Berlin, scriptwriter Pavlo Arye, producer Valerii Kalmykov;
7. The special relationship, screenwriter Antonio Lukich, producer Anna Yatsenko;
8. Revenge, scriptwriter Andrii Donchyk, producer Yevhenii Dyachenko;
9. PTSD, screenwriter Andriy Negreskul, producer Maksym Asadchyi;
10. Seven Returns Forever, scriptwriter Mykhailo Illenko, producer Myroslav Hai;
11. Tigercatchers, screenwriter Anna Buryachkova, producer Nataliia Libet;
12. Tragedy, screenwriter Pavlo Ostrikov, producer Anna Yatsenko;
13. Cherry Blossom, screenwriter Marysia Nikityuk, producer Solomiia Ilnytska;
14. Red on White, screenwriter Iryna Hromozda, producer Olena Lavreniuk;
15. Ukraine is the capital of the United Kingdom, written by Antonina Noyabrova, and produced by Danylo Kaptiukh;
16. I do not remember this war, screenwriter Ihor Savichenko, producer Solomiia Ilnytska.

Original game series

In the Original Game series category, 190 projects were submitted for review. Sixteen projects were accepted to receive the grants.

1. Day to night, screenwriter By Zborovskyi, producer Kateryna Vyshnevska;
2. Boyarka, screenwriter Olha Hibelinda, producer Ivanna Khitsinska;
3. She wakes up, screenwriter Yevheniia Savichenko, producer Ivanna Dyadyura;
4. Ingigerda, screenwriter Dmytro Kapranov, producer Olesia Nogina;
5. My heart is steel, screenwriter Alina Semeryakova, producer Natalia Strybuk;
6. Flytrap/Sun Diggers, screenwriter Myroslav Latyk, producer Oksana Ivanyuk;
7. Unspoken, screenwriter Zhanna Ozirna, producer Dmytro Sukhanov;
8. Olha Kyivska, screenwriter Valerii Primost, producer Bella Terzi;
9. Train from Ukraine, scriptwriter Liliia Molodetska, producer Oksana Zadorozhna;
10. Guide, screenwriter Oksana Arttemenko, producer Olena Yakovitska;
11. Untitled project, screenwriter Dmytro Kitsai, producer Yehor Olesov;
12. Revolution on Granite, screenwriter Anton Bazelynskyi, producer Halyna Khrapko;
13. Strings, screenwriter Khachatur Vasilyan, producer Zlata Yefimenko;
14. Mystery Alchevsky, screenwriter Taras Dron, producer Nataliia Yakovleva;
15. Tina, screenwriter Arkadii Nepytalyuk, producer Olesya Lukyanenko;
16. Topless photo, screenwriter Nataliia Blok, producer Dmytro Minzyanov.

Documentary project

In this category, 57 documentaries were submitted for review. Sixteen were approved to receive funding from Netflix and the Ukrainian Film Academy.

1. Amateur, screenwriter Nadiia Parfan, producer Illia Hladshtein;
2. Eternal Ascension, screenwriter Irena Stetsenko, producer Vitalii Sheremetyev;
3. Blessed, screenwriter Andrii Lysetskyi, producer Hennadiy Kofman;
4. War in Chornobyl, screenwriter Oleksiy Radinsky, producer Lyuba Knorozok;
5. Guests from Kharkiv, screenwriter Halyna Lavrynets, producer Oleksandr Bratyshchenko;
6. Diviya, screenwriter Dmytro Hreshko, producer Polina Herman;
7. The days you want to forget, screenwriter Alina Horlova, producer Maksym Nakonechnyi;
8. Behind the scenes, screenwriter Maryna Stepanska, producer Yuliia Sinkevich;
9. Iron Man (One day I want to see you happy), screenwriter Maryna Nikolcheva, producer Oleksandr Kravchenko;
10. The End of Moscow, screenwriter Maksym Bernadskyi, producer Yehor Olesov;
11. Displaced (tentative title), screenwriter Olha Zhurba, producer Dariia Bassel;
12. Ash settles on the surface layer, screenwriter Zoya Laktionova, producer Valery Sochivets;
13. Ukraine is so far away, screenwriter Dariia Averchenko, producer Roman Bondarchuk;
14. Mariupol Fort, screenwriter Yuliia Hontaruk, producer Ivanna Khitsynska;
15. Front, screenwriter Alisa Kovalenko, producer Valerii Kalmykov;
16. Red Zone, screenwriter Iryna Tsylyk, producer Daria Bassel.

Final thoughts

The Netflix platform will continue to provide humanitarian services to creators facing adversities beyond their control. This initiative will echo in history as they help provide funding and quality services for filmmakers to thrive.