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Logline

Children of Ukraine reveals the war crime of Russia’s systematic deportation of 19,546 Ukrainian children through verité testimony, poetic observation, and hand-drawn animation, preserving memory while serving as legal evidence.

Synopsis

In the wake of the full-scale Russian invasion, Ukrainian authorities discover a chilling pattern: more than 19,546 children have not just disappeared but vanished into a systematic web of state-sponsored abduction. This is not the accidental displacement of conflict but a calculated campaign to transport the most vulnerable to re-education camps where their Ukrainian identity is targeted for erasure.

Children of Ukraine follows the high-stakes rescue missions coordinated by Mykola Kuleba and the tireless advocacy of officials like Daria Herasymchuk as they race against time to bring these stolen voices home. To document a crime that occurs in territories where cameras are forbidden, the film employs a hybrid visual language of intimate verité testimonials and hand-drawn animation.

These animated sequences serve a critical dual purpose by reconstructing the inaccessible corridors of deportation trains and re-education centers while protecting the fragile dignity of the survivors. Each frame acts as both a cinematic journey and an evidentiary record designed to meet the rigorous standards of the International Criminal Court. By exploring the existential question of how global attention can wane while atrocities unfold in real time, the film captures a profound portrait of resilience that refuses to let these stolen childhoods become mere statistics.  

Meet the Filmmakers

Giancarlo Bianchi — Director/producer
Giancarlo Bianchi is a director and producer making his feature documentary directorial debut with Children of Ukraine. With 16 years of experience in production across international territories, Giancarlo specializes in socially conscious projects that document human rights issues.

As director and producer, Giancarlo oversees creative vision, production strategy, and institutional partnerships for this critical war crime documentation. He developed the project’s distinctive hybrid approach of verité testimony, poetic observation, and hand-drawn animation. Giancarlo secured key relationships with Save Ukraine, Bring Kids Back UA, and Presidential Office access. With 30 interviews completed July 2025 in Kyiv, Children of Ukraine represents his commitment to producing works that serve as historical archive and legal evidence.

Rodrigo Couvert — Director/producer
Rodrigo Couvert PhD in Copyright & Creative Law (Cum Laude, University of Barcelona), is a director and producer making his feature documentary directorial debut with Children of Ukraine. With 11 years litigating child abuse cases and specialization in legal frameworks protecting minors, Rodrigo brings unparalleled expertise to this war crime documentation. His legal experience in human rights combined with therapeutic training in trauma-informed protocols (Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation) guarantees ethical consideration of child participants. With 15+ years directing international campaigns across 20+ countries, Rodrigo coordinates production logistics, rescue mission access, and repatriation center collaborations. As co-director and producer, Rodrigo ensures the film serves dual purpose as cinematic witness and legal evidence for Russia’s deportation of 19,546 Ukrainian children. His academic and professional background positions Children of Ukraine as rigorous historical archive for international tribunals.

Iñaki Gorraiz — Cinematographer
Iñaki Gorraiz is an accomplished cinematographer with extensive documentary experience including “Ucrania Resistencia y Esperanza,” “Finding La Singla,” and “Peret: Yo soy la Rumba.” His portfolio features collaborations with Antonio Banderas, Carolina Herrera, Puma, OXFAM, and Washington Post. As Director of Photography for Children of Ukraine, Iñaki captures intimate human stories behind Russia’s deportation of 19,546 Ukrainian children. His approach blends natural light, patient observation, and emotional depth, demonstrated in his 2025 Documentary Reel. Iñaki’s humanitarian experience with OXFAM and Washington Post ensures trauma-informed sensitivity for verité rescue missions, poetic landscapes, and controlled interview setups, serving the film’s dual purpose as artistic witness and legal evidence.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.