Director Nikitiuk: Western Audiences Ready To See Ukrainians As Victims, But Not Always As Victors

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) Ukrainian film director and screenwriter Marysia Nikitiuk said this in an interview with Ukrinform.

"There are problems with the perception of the reality of war in the cultural sphere, as if our right to active self-defense is being denied," she said.

According to Nikitiuk, direct messages about the war are often difficult for Western audiences to accept. She noted that people frequently say they want to see "war without war." For many, the conflict feels distant, while the fact that it is "the central story in Europe today" is unsettling.

"So, we need to find an approach that resonates with Western audiences," the director said.

According to Nikitiuk, people in the West are generally willing to view Ukrainian civilians as victims, but not as strong individuals or heroes who are fighting back.

"That is my mission – to find a way to express our strength so that Europeans see us as victors as well," she said.

This goal also underpins her upcoming feature film Noah, which is aimed not only at Ukrainian viewers but also at international audiences. The film tells the story of an IT specialist who is forced to become a soldier, illustrating that Ukraine's armed forces are made up not only of professional service members but of people from all walks of life. It portrays the country's resistance to Russian aggression as a truly nationwide struggle.

"In the context of building international diplomacy through art, it is important to shape and defend the understanding that we are defending ourselves. The vast majority of those who have been forced to fight physically for our country's independence are former civilians who never intended to become soldiers," Nikitiuk explained.

She added that this message should be understandable and relatable to European audiences.

Read also: Ukrainian film U Are the Universe to screen at festival in Canada

As reported by Ukrinform, Marysia Nikitiuk's feature film project Noah has been selected for KVIFF Central Stage, the prestigious production program of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The festival is taking place from July 3 to July 11.

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