Ukrainian production banner Film.UA is partnering with the Find Your Own Foundation and a roster of top directing talents to launch “Missing,” an anthology series that explores the harrowing number of Ukrainians who have gone missing since the Russian invasion. The show will also shed light on the profound impact those losses have had on their families.
Set against the backdrop of the brutal conflict, “Missing” delves deep into the lives of individuals whose stories of loss, hope and determination unfold amidst the chaos of war. Inspired by real-life experiences documented through the Find Your Own Foundation, which was founded by TV host Kateryna Osadcha, the show will focus on the thousands of everyday Ukrainians who have disappeared during the war, as well as the countless others, including children, who have been illegally deported, highlighting the personal stories behind the statistics.
The series will be directed by Natalka Vorozhbyt (Venice Critics’ Week selection “Bad Roads”), Iryna Tsilyk (Sundance prize winner “The Earth Is Blue as an Orange”), Christina Tynkevych (Locarno prize winner “How Is Katia?”), Yevhen Tunik (Beta Film’s “In Her Car”), Oleksii Taranenko (“I Work at the Cemetery”), and renowned theater director Ivan Uryvskyi (“The Witch of Konotop”), making his cinema debut.
Each filmmaker will create their own characters and plotlines and direct episodes in their distinctive cinematic styles, while also spanning diverse genres, from futuristic dystopias and intimate dramas to road movies, action-thrillers and epic narratives. Collectively, however, their stories will share a common theme, exploring resilience, hope and the universal quest for closure in the face of loss.
“Our initiative, Find Your Own Foundation, began its mission to locate missing Ukrainians from the very first days of the full-scale invasion, and our team continues to work tirelessly to reunite families with their loved ones,” said Osadcha, who also serves as a producer on “Missing.” “It is crucial for us that the plight of missing children and adults due to this horrific war is known and remembered beyond our borders.
“The artistic reflections on this issue by some of Ukraine’s finest directors in ‘Missing’ aim to convey to viewers the dreadful experiences of war. Understanding these personal tragedies is vital, as these are not just numbers but human lives and stories that we are committed to telling,” she added.
Producer Anna Eliseeva (“Mavka. The Forest Song”) draws on her experience as the producer of the internationally acclaimed anthology series “Those Who Stayed,” which was co-developed by Film.UA and Red Arrow Studios International, which is also distributing the show, and co-produced with SVT (Sweden), YLE (Finland) and NRK (Norway). “Those Who Stayed” has been sold to more than 30 countries, with Netflix securing rights in 19 territories.
“Through the powerful narratives of ‘Missing,’ we aim to illuminate the profound human experience of resilience, hope and the unyielding quest for healing amidst the tumult of war,” said Eliseeva. “Each story crafted by our gifted team not only illuminates the diverse facets of war but also celebrates the power of storytelling to inspire empathy and understanding.”
Along with the anthology series, “Missing” will also include a cross-media collaboration with the renowned band DakhaBrakha. Directed by Natalka Vorozhbyt, the collaboration will work in concert with the series’ narrative while also offering a standalone artistic expression that amplifies its thematic depth and visual storytelling.
