The country of my dreams

Vision of the project

The project planned to organise two educational film camps in Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia for young people aged 14–21 who wanted to contribute to the preservation and restoration of Ukrainian culture, the development of a strong, European country, and efforts to counter Russian aggression. Among the participants were teenagers who had survived the war or were internally displaced persons (IDPs), as well as young people with hearing impairments.

In each city, 45 participants were selected. Under the guidance of experienced teachers, these young individuals learned the modern profession of filmmaking, developed and created their own YouTube channels to increase the percentage of Ukrainian-language content online, and mastered all stages of film production—from idea development to editing. Divided into subgroups, participants chose culturally significant topics related to their cities and created films addressing these themes.

A joint creative project, a documentary titled "The Country of My Dreams," was produced by all 90 participants. The culmination of the camps was a competition of the films created by the participants, serving as an assessment of the skills acquired during the project and providing an additional incentive for the young filmmakers.

Well-known figures from the fields of culture and art, public figures, teachers, and psychologists were involved in the project, offering mentorship and support. After the completion of the camps, these mentors continued to assist participants in their personal and creative development, encouraging them to engage other local youth who may not have initially participated. The project aimed to empower young people to actively contribute to Ukraine’s cultural development, foster creativity, and build a strong sense of civic responsibility.

Meet the Key Partner

Internional children film festival Kidsmoviefest was founded in August 2012 (officially registered in November 2017). The organization works in the following areas: education and development of youth; promotion of Ukrainian cinema; holding youth film festivals; popularization of Ukrainian cinema; education, development and assistance in social adaptation of young people with special needs (hearing impairments, autism); assistance to young people in the war zone; assistance to IDPs; holding thematic and youth camps.

Start Date: Dec. 1, 2023
End Date: Feb. 29, 2024