Captured by Soviet ghosts, a Slavic Firebird breaks free and becomes Ania, a fiery teen in 90s Ukraine, who burns with every kiss and fights a crumbling legacy desperate to steal her spark.
A Slavic Firebird, captured by Soviet ghosts, breaks free and finds herself as Ania—a fiery teen living in a Ukrainian town in the 90s. As she struggles to navigate love and desire against all odds, every passionate encounter sets her ablaze, pulling her closer to a predestined rebirth. Haunted by captors desperate to steal her spark and revive their crumbling myths, Ania moves through village houses, underground clubs, and football matches, crossing the raw, awkward terrain of self-discovery. As she battles for her freedom, the past tightens its grip, threatening to consume her—but from the ashes of old worlds, a new future is rising.
Director’s statement
The idea for this film comes from my personal experience of growing up as a closeted queer person in Ukraine during the '90s. The starting points and major inspiration for the short are two queer archives: one from my hometown, Mykolaiv, which I gathered in collaboration with community members, and another—the Ukrainian Lesbian Archive, created by journalist Kateryna Farbar. The story of the film is fictional, but it serves as a lens through which to view the collective experience of Ukrainian queers trying to fight the ghosts of the political past, which painfully resonates with today's reality.
Country of production
Poland
Target audience
Young adults & adults
Animation technique
3D (CGI)
Production company
BlurredEstimated budget
112 025 EUR
Funding secured
30 000 EUR - IDM Film Commission Südtirol - alto adige 5 000 EUR - Post-production service from PFX Italy 6 785 EUR - Producer's own investment and in-kinds (Poland)
Stage of the project
Pre-production
Looking for
Co-producer, sales agent, distributor, animators
