Alina Krasnianska: Cultural Resilience Through Film

What are the most formidable challenges inherent to the profession of filmmaking?

The biggest challenge of the producer is to catch actual and unique story. Or to make the raw story work, to find right path together with a director and to make magic happen

Could you elaborate on the wellspring of your creative inspiration for this particular short film?

Our wellspring of the inspiration for Culture vs war. Zhadan documentary is will to survive, need of justice for our beautiful and democratic country, the biggest intention is to stop the war and a wish to share the values of our creators, who sacrificed their successful careers, bright and creative life to fight for our country in this iniquitous war

Could you elucidate on the central thematic underpinning of your film?

The hero of our documentary Culture vs war. Zhadan is the Nobel Prize nominee poet, writer, translator and musician Serhiy Zhadan. This is his story and his wise thoughts of the first 6 months of the full-scale invasion of russia into Ukraine. His poesies are well intertwined with the powerful shots of the war in Serhiy’s home city Kharkiv. In our days Serhiy Zhadan is serving in the Army

How do you navigate the task of strategizing cost-effective promotional efforts when operating within a constrained budget?

War documentary is a part of the cultural diplomacy of the country. The Ministry of International Affairs and the Ukrainian Embassies all around the world are interested in the distribution of such type of product. We get a promo support freely. Especially till the year 2024. Last year the international interest to the war in Ukraine started to drop. I assume, that the war documentaries, even with such powerful heroes as Serhiy Zhadan, produced after 2023, have to search for the additional sources of promotion

In today's dynamic marketplace, how pivotal do you consider the role of film distribution?

In today’s dynamic marketplace, we have to stay attentive and sensitive to the changes to provide the most effective film distribution. Crucial is to select the countries for the distribution and to learn their specifics and regulations according to the certain type of product. It’s important to stay opened to every year changes of technologies and methods and to provide flexibility choosing the channels of the distribution

For individuals contemplating the path of self-distribution, what counsel or insights can you offer?

My counsel is to work with the professionals, no matter what. It’s better find the sources and the way of negotiating the conditions, searching for the mutual interest with the professional distributors. Distribution is a sphere which demands full involvement and gives big results being under the control of professionals Self-distribution is possible. Counsels depend on the product, countries of distribution etc.

In your estimation, what level of significance do short films hold for aspiring filmmakers seeking to embark on a career in directing?

On my point of view the short films are mandatory to start with before diving into full-length film production. It gives vision, trains and forms valuable experience

Reflecting on your professional journey thus far, could you share an instance of the most formidable challenge you encountered and how you surmounted it?

The most powerful challenge in my professional experience was death on the battle field of one of my closest colleagues on the project. Oleksiy was a great specialist. It was hard to replace him immediately in the hot peak of work and the emotional component played a big role. Each of us had to take a part of Oleksiy’s job to complete the project. It was more proper than to teach a new person on the last stage of production. This experience of lost is powerful and truly remarkable

What, in your view, are the critical factors that contribute to the creation of a cinematic masterpiece?

Talent, talent, talent of the creative part of a team. Professionalism and experience of the producers. Unique subject of the film. In case of the non-documentary, powerful script

If you could revisit the inception of your career, are there any aspects or decisions you would choose to alter in hindsight?

If I could revisit the inception of my career, I would try to find a way to study and to work abroad to have a touch of other points of view, school and experience. All of that I would anyway implement in my beloved Ukraine