In January 2024, the screenings of the working materials of the Ukrainian feature film BUCHA will take place in six cities in the United States.

Film "BUCHA" is an artistic drama that impedes the proliferation of the propagandistic narratives of the Russian government. It reveals the horrific truth of events in Ukraine that unfolded at the beginning of the full-scale invasion in the cities of Bucha, Vorzel, and Hostomel. These screenings are a part of the project ART AGAINST PROPAGANDA, which opposes Russian propaganda worldwide.

As part of the events, meetings with the creative team will be held, including Oleksandr Shchur, the producer and screenwriter of the film, and Stanislav Tiunov, the film's director.  Guests will have the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion on countering Russian propaganda.

Tour Schedule:

JAN 17, BOSTON, Regent Theatre
JAN 19, NEW JERSEY, Cambridge Club House
JAN 20, PHILADELPHIA, Living Streams Church
JAN 21, NEW JERSEY, HowThorne Movie Theatre
JAN 22, NEW YORK, Ukrainian Institute of America
JAN 23, NEW YORK, Alpine Cinema
JAN 25, SALT LAKE CITY, Salt Lake City Public Cinema
JAN 27, LOS ANGELES, UCLA
JAN 31, NEW YORK, Columbia University

About the movie

BUCHA is a feature drama film based on true events that took place in Bucha, Vorzel, and Gostomel (Kyiv region), during the Russian occupation in the first months of the war in February-March 2022. The main character is a foreigner who decided to fight against Russias evil aggression in Ukraine, a country that became his home.

The film tells about the rescue of local residents by Konstantin Gudauskas, a citizen of Kazakhstan who received asylum in Ukraine and lived in Bucha. When the Russian invasion began, he was allowed to cross into the territory occupied by Russian troops because of his Kazakh passport. Once there, he was able to extract Ukrainian civilians out of the occupied territory into safety. Konstantin not only saved people, but also became an eyewitness to all the horrors of war and occupation.

The main roles in the film BUCHA were played by the famous Polish theater and film actor Cezary Lukaszewicz and Ukrainian film star Vyacheslav Dovzhenko.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Border Service of Ukraine, the National Police of Ukraine, the Kyiv City Council, the Kyiv Regional Military Administration and the largest Ukrainian film studio Film.UA Group, assisted the team in creating and shooting the film and also act as co-producers and distributors of the film.

In 2023, the film was showcased at some of the most influential global film events. It was featured at a special event dedicated to the film at the European Film Market of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) in February of that year. The film also had separate screenings in New York and Boston. In early September, the film's work materials were presented at the 80th Anniversary International Film Festival in Venice, La Biennale di Venezia, as well as at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Protagonist

Konstantin Gudauskas is a Lithuanian Jew, a citizen of Kazakhstan, an activist who has received asylum in Ukraine, and lives in Bucha when the war begins. 
After the Russian invasion, because of his Kazakh passport and citizenship, he is able to travel to the Russian occupied territories and extract civilians from there. 
While saving 203 people, Konstantin observes firsthand the horrors of war and atrocities of the Russian occupation committed by Russian troops - murders, robberies, rape.