‘The Day I Met Spiderman’: Ukrainian Producers Unite To Shoot First Feature In Country Since Russian Invasion
27.06.2022 - 20:29
/ deadline.com
It’s almost impossible to believe a feature film could be shooting in Ukraine but cameras are rolling on what’s understood to be the first movie shot in the war-torn country since Russia invaded.
Mamas Production is working up The Day I Met Spiderman, which is billed as a joint project of the Organization of Ukrainian Producers (OUP) and AMO Pictures. It tells a story of a volunteer who discovers supernatural powers within her and saves the future of a boy from Bucha.
The OUP was established in March and comprises seven experienced Ukrainian producers. It was created to makes documentaries and features about the premise, course and consequences of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine.
Production in Ukraine stopped following the invasion, with only the ingenuity of some keeping certain projects going, as Deadline has reported. However, the creators of The Day I Met Spiderman were able to piece together resources and began shooting in early May, with filming continuing in Lviv, Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
“Being the first in war-torn Ukraine to shoot a fiction movie is a challenge for the OUP. Originally the organization was aimed at shooting documentaries,” said Alla Lipovetska, co-founder of the OUP and Mamas Production.
Elithaveta Zaitseva, Olexandr Rudynsky, Olesya Zhurakivska and Kateryna Kysen star and widescale distribution on streaming services, broadcasters, cinemas and festivals is planned, with a fall release scheduled.
Anton Skrypets created the concept and is a co-producer on the film. “You may know the story of Peter Parker, who became Spider-Man. You may have heard the story of Bruce Wayne wearing a Batman outfit. We will tell you the story of Katya — a volunteer who felt an inner superpower,” he