UKRAINE
Combat Medics on Ukraine's Eastern Front - Donetsk | September 2024 [Short Documentary]
A short story about Ukraine's combat medics on the frontline near Pokrovsk on the Eastern Donetsk front.
Artist Showcase - Max Denison-Pender, Nikopol & Dnipro, August 2024 [Short Documentary]
A short documetary focused world renowned painter Max Denison-Pender's work in Ukraine.
The Kherson Maternity Clinic - Life in the Face of War [Short Documentary]
"What do you feel when you see the first tree buds bloom in the spring? When you hear the first bird singing in the spring?
It's the beginning of life."
In the besieged city of Kherson day and night is punctuated by the mechanical whir of FPV drones, the thuds of artillery fire and the contrails of incoming missile.
Amidst these sounds of death, the cries of newborn children ring through the halls of Kherson's last remaining Maternity Hospital. Brave staff risk life and limb for expectant mothers, bringing Kherson's next generation to life.
The Hospital - The Story of our Largest Public Infrastructure Project [Short Documentary]
On July 8th, a wave of over 40 missiles spread across Ukraine, marking another of Russia's indiscriminate mass attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure.
While missiles were falling on the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv, 300 miles away, another hospital, the University Hospital in Dnipro, was struck. This hit close to home for Insulate Ukraine; our workers were at the hospital on July 8th.
July 8th was the first day of what would soon become our largest single infrastructure project to date. The hospital had been struck before, on July 3rd and multiple times during the fall and winter of 2023. When the missiles arrived on July 8th, our Nikopol team was on the 5th floor assessing damage from those previous strikes.
By the time the dust had settled, our team, thankfully safe, had 250 more windows to add to the repair list. The project had become a 500-window job.
We were handpicked by the hospital specifically because it had been hit so many times. The strike on July 8th was proof positive of our product’s need at the facility.
The hospital had repaired their windows with glass before, only to see the newly repaired windows shattered by subsequent strikes. Glass replacements were fruitless. With cold and damp OSB board coverings, the hospital was in need of an alternative solution. They found us. This is what our product is made for: buildings that need to operate despite their proximity to active shelling. Places that need a safe, insulating, weatherproof window that can be easily refitted after a blast. Places that need an IU window.
The Priest - January, 2024 [Short Documentary]
Father Igor serves a community across the war torn region of Kherson. From the first days of the war, he has helped to supply his community with live-saving humanitarian aid and spiritual guidance for those affected by this brutal war.
At the Orphanage - July 2024 [Short Documentary]
A serence and secluded orphanage houses 200 children brought together by tragedy, both of war and the type that afflicts children everywhere. Here the UAid Direct team works to renovate the disintegrating buildings of the compound, run on little to no funding by a dedicated staff of teachers and administrators.
Staying for Mother | Nikopol - March, 2024 [Short Documentary]
Nikopol, Ukraine - Staying for Mother
"Yesterday when the shelling happened, a friend called me asking if I was alive. They told me to stay strong, but I don't know how. There isn't a single corner in Nikopol that is safe."
Ogla grew up in Nikopol, and raised her family there. With the war's onset, as many fled the city, she remained - taking care of her sick mother who could not make the journey out of the city.
Now, as the war enters it's third year, Olga is steadfast in remaining in her home, despite the dangers that remaining in Nikopol brings.
There are many reasons why people stay in frontline cities: poverty, sickness, duty, work, a commitment they cannot abandon, a disabled relative or friend.
Or simply, A dedication to preserve what is theirs.
Our work helps those who do stay to keep warm, protect their homes, and to let light into their lives.
Watch Olga's story, one of many shared with our Insulate Ukraine team as we work to help those remaining in cities like Nikopol keep their homes warm.
Thank you to Elena and Ilya in Nikopol who made this story possible
Frontliner | Ukraine - April, 2024 [Short Documentary]
The story of Andriy Dubchak, war journalist and founder of Frontliner media.
Insulate Ukraine - One Year On | Ukraine - April, 2024 [Short Documentary]
A story of the impact of Insulate Ukraine on the lives and futures of everyday Ukrainian civilians who brave war to remain in their homes.
The Dacha | Nikopol, Ukraine - March, 2024 [Short Documentary]
This is a story of loss and resilience - a story of people trying to save a sense of home, little by little, in the face of extraordinary odds. This is a story of the city of Nikopol, and that of so many in Ukraine.
UAid Direct | The Orphanage: Southern Ukraine [Short Documentary]
This short documentary highlights UAid Direct's work in southern Ukraine, with a focus on an orphanage, one of the many locations supported by the organization. It emphasizes the substantial aid delivered and sets the stage for their upcoming major initiative: reconstruction projects.
EVACUATION: Slovyansk, Ukraine [Micro-Documentary]
A documentary following the work of Volodymyr, a driver with the evacuation NGO “Help People”
Leaving home is not easy. But as russian troops advance towards Slovyansk, the pressure on Ivan’s daughter grows. She knows she needs to leave, but cannot without her father - who’s recent medical emergency has left him unable to fully grasp the gravity of the situation at hand.
SMALL WINS: Lviv, Ukraine [Micro-Documentary]
This short documentary focuses on the orphanages and children supported by the organization Small Wins.
Founded in March 2022 in response to the refugee crisis caused by the Russian war against Ukraine, the Small Wins Charity Foundation focuses on providing humanitarian aid, educational programs, and enrichment activities for orphaned children in Lviv and the surrounding region. With the resettlement of nearly 900 orphans from the Eastern and Southern parts of Ukraine into 25 locations (orphanages),Small Wins aims to address the pressing needs of these institutions, which often struggle with limited resources and personnel. Small Wins offers essential support, including medical, psychological, pedagogical, and specialized assistance, to ensure these children’s well-being and growth while fostering an environment that nurtures their education, talents, and dreams for a brighter future.
DIYA: Odessa, Ukraine [Micro-Documentary]
DIYA, an Odessa-based initiative for internally displaced women, carefully navigates the complex terrain of post-war trauma. Amidst ongoing conflict, these women find solace and strength in community and art, charting a path forward through the turmoil of an unresolved war.
Home: Ukraine [Promotional Documentary Short]
A brief film showcasing Insulate Ukraine's vital efforts in aiding Ukrainians to safely return to their homes amidst ongoing challenges.
Olga’s Story: Nikopol, Ukraine [Micro-Documentary]
This short documentary focuses on Olga, a school manager in Nikopol, Ukraine. Olga takes us on a tour of the local school where she serves as the supply manager. This close-knit town holds a rich history, and for Olga, it’s the very same school she attended as a child.Since the beginning of the war, she has been dedicated to preserving the school, even in the face of damage from shelling and exposure to the elements. All the while, she has transitioned her life to meet the humanitarian and wartime demands of her country.
Valerie and Ira: Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukraine [Micro-Documentary]
This short tells the story of Valerii and Ira. The couple has a long history in the town of Schevchenkove. They raised their family there; they grew up there, and their parents and grandparents also raised families there. A lot of times, I wonder why people decide to stay in towns reduced to rubble. Meeting Valerii and Ira helped me understand the reason why. They are now internally displaced, living in nearby Mikolaiv. Yet, they return every week to try to rebuild their home and help others in their community who could not relocate elsewhere. It was never a question of whether they would try to rebuild the lives they had lost, just how.The moments captured in this video are particularly significant to me, moments of resilience in the face of loss and joy held in the memories of their lives before the war.
IVAN & SVETLANA: Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukraine [Micro-Documentary]
This short tells the story of Ivan and Svetlana. Ivan severely injured his leg, leaving him unable to walk or work. The couple lives without heating, electricity, or access to potable water. The destruction of their hometown leaves them without a means to obtain basic amenities if they could afford them in the first place.
Mihailyuk Andrei Spiridonovich: Lyman, Ukraine [Micro-Documentary]
A civilian in Lyman living through the war.
Firefighter: Lyman, Ukraine [Micro-Documentary]
Serhii, a firefighter in war-torn Lyman, recounts his harrowing experiences and the challenges he faces in his life-saving work during the war.
Vyacheslav: Lyman, Ukraine [Micro-Documentary]
Vyacheslav’s story, an Insulate Ukraine employee in Lyman.
Oleg: Lyman, Ukraine [Micro-Documentary]
Oleg’s story, an Insulate Ukraine employee in Lyman.
Anna: Lyman, Ukraine [Micro-Documentary]
Anna’s story, the Insulate Ukraine regional manager in Lyman.
Lyman Kickoff: Lyman, Ukraine [Micro-Documentary]
Insulate Ukraine commences operations in the frontline city of Lyman.
Sloviansk Kickoff: Sloviansk, Ukraine [Micro-Documentary]
Insulate Ukraine trains newly hired local workers.
Insulate Ukraine-Our Work: Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukraine [Short Documentary]
An overview of the design and benefits of the Insulate Ukraine Emergency Window Solution. A series of interviews with administrators, first responders and civilians across Ukraine’s southern and eastern frontline cities.
UAid Direct, Heading into Winter: Ukraine [Micro-Documentary]
As fall ends, the team at UAid Direct works tirelessly to deliver to those in need across Ukraine. With the weather quickly darkening, the group focuses on generators and other essential supplies to help Ukrainians survive the onset of a brutal winter.
UAid Direct, Their Work: Ukraine [Micro-Documentary]
A day in the life of the UAid Direct team.
POLAND
UAid Direct, Airplane and Evacuation: Poland [Micro-Documentary]
The UAid Direct team receives their first aid drop by plane. The team aids in the delivery of two medical evacuees, traveling to Germany by plane.
Hope Shelter: Przemyśl, Poland [Short Documentary]
A short documentary highlighting the work of the Hope Shelter, a refugee transit/short term stay facility set up in the border city of Przemyśl.
UNITED STATES
Rabbi and Ruth Lazowski: Hartford, Connecticut [Short Documentary]
The remarkable journey of Rabbi and Ruth Lazowski, Holocaust survivors and civil rights advocates, whose enduring love story traverses continents, weaves through historical tumults, and perseveres beyond the harrowing confines of concentration camps.
Olvia Coley Pearson: Douglas, Georgia [Short Documentary]
In the deep south of Georgia, where power, politics, and historical injustices are deeply intertwined, a city with a long history of racial tensions becomes the battleground for one woman's formidable fight against the established powers, striving to safeguard the voting rights of the town's African American citizens.
Jessica Owyoung: Oakland, California [Short Documentary]
While COVID-19 ravaged America, a parallel and pernicious scourge swept through its cities - a surge in anti-Asian hate crimes. Amidst the alarming rise in targeted attacks, particularly against the elderly and vulnerable within the Asian American community, one woman embarked on a determined mission to establish a program aimed at protecting these at-risk individuals and combating the tide of hatred.
Pastor Jon and Leslie: Houton, Texas [Short Documentary]
In a landscape where inclusion and religion seldom intersect, two progressive young pastors with substantial southern congregations are defying traditional norms. Their mission: to offer a vision of a faith that embraces all, underpinned by the fundamental principle of love.
Featured in the PBS Special: True Colors: LGBTQ+ Our Stories, Our Songs
Jason Collins: Los Angeles, California [Short Documentary]
The story of Jason Collins, the NBAs first openly gay player.
Featured in the PBS Special: True Colors: LGBTQ+ Our Stories, Our Songs