Screen success for Ukrainian filmmaker Lora Arkhypenk’s documentary, CHILDREN

The University proudly welcomed over 80 guests, both in-person and virtually from Ukraine, for an exclusive screening of CHILDREN, the latest documentary by acclaimed Ukrainian filmmaker Lora Arkhypenk. The event, held at the Arena Theatre, was accompanied by an exhibition and a series of thought-provoking talks exploring themes of resilience, identity, and love.

About the film

CHILDREN is not just a film about war or families fleeing Ukraine - it is a deeply human story about a generation growing up between two worlds. Through the voices of Mariia, Sonya, Manya, and Timofii, the documentary captures the experiences of Ukrainian children who fled their homeland with their mothers during the war. Three years into their new lives in the UK, the film asks:

How has the war changed them? What have they lost - and what have they found - in their new home?

At its heart, CHILDREN is a powerful portrait of resilience and the enduring bond between mother and child. This observational documentary follows Arkhypenk’s award-winning film WOMEN, continuing her exploration of displacement and identity.

Lora Arkhypenk said: “It was a truly wonderful experience sharing the film CHILDREN with the Wolverhampton community at the Arena Theatre. The overwhelmingly positive response highlights the importance of sharing these powerful stories of resilience and hope among Ukrainian families. I am grateful to the University of Wolverhampton for hosting such a meaningful and well-organised event. I especially loved the thoughtful way the event was structured - the strong collaboration between different university projects, including the children’s art exhibition, created a powerful and deeply informative atmosphere. It was an honour to see CHILDREN included as part of such an impactful programme.”

Event Highlights

The programme featured:

• Welcome and Introduction to community engagement including the English Café – Paula Harrison, University of Wolverhampton’s Access and Widening Participation Team
• The Power of Moments – Prof. Diana Bannister, University of Wolverhampton
• Twinning with Nizhyn Mykola Gogol State University – Prof. Zeta Williams-Brown and Dr Yevhen Plotnikov
• Messages from Ukrainian Children – Teena Patel, University of Wolverhampton
• Screening of CHILDREN and Q\&A – Lora Arkhypenk

Prof. Diana Bannister reflected:

“On behalf of the University of Wolverhampton, we would like to thank Lora for bringing this informative, powerful, and emotive documentary to our community. The feedback has been overwhelming, with stories of resilience, identity, and love evoking deep emotions across the audience. Prior to the screening, we captured the power of the moment, beaming a message of unity from Wolverhampton to Ukrainian communities here in the UK and our partners in Ukraine.”

About the exhibition

The accompanying exhibition showcased artworks created by Ukrainian and UK children as part of an arts-based research project, offering a creative platform for young voices during this time of crisis. The pieces, ranging from drawings to mixed-media works, provide profound insight into their experiences and hopes.

This project is part of an ongoing collaboration between the University of Wolverhampton and Nizhyn Mykola Gogol State University, established through a formal twinning partnership in 2022. Prof. Zeta Williams-Brown noted:

“We cannot presume to fully understand what children are experiencing during such a difficult time. This exhibition provides an arts-focused opportunity for Ukrainian children to be internationally seen and heard.”

Dr Yevhen Plotnikov added:

“This is not just another collaborative project. It is a story of resilience, professionalism, and compassion. In Wolverhampton, we found passionate people who truly care and whose professionalism is matched by their vision to make the world a better place.”

Photo caption: From left to right: Paula Harrison, Prof. Zeta Williams-Brown University of Wolverhampton, Lora Arkhypenk and Teena Patel on stage at the screening of CHILDREN