The “Stand With Ukraine Through Film” project is coming to The Independent Picture House. Featured everywhere from Good Morning America to Capitol Hill, the project has raised more than $150,000 to support Ukraine and continues to grow.
The Independent Picture House will host a special screening of The Guide on July 20 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $15.00 and are available for purchase through their website (https://independentpicturehouse.org/movies/the-guide/) or in-person at the box office. Anton Greene, who played the boy, Peter, in The Guide will be doing a virtual audience Q&A directly following the film. He is now a student at the University of Michigan, majoring in political science and jazz.
Donations will be also accepted through QR codes, which will be placed in the lobby for moviegoers to scan, and donation jars will also be placed on-site. All event proceeds will go toward supporting Ukraine.
The Guide is a two-hour dramatic film produced by acclaimed Ukrainian Director Oles Sanin in 2014, which is set against Soviet efforts to exterminate the Ukrainian people in the 1930s through starvation and other policies. It was selected as the Ukrainian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards, and despite the film’s historical setting, it feels quite current.
This is an amazing story of how, last year, a small, community cinema in Salem, Massachusetts kickstarted the global release of the 2014 film to support Ukraine. The first showing at Cinema Salem in March 2022 raised $12,000 in one evening. Immediately after its premiere in Massachusetts, The Guide was released nationwide, and within days, 600 cinemas across the U.S. agreed to screen it. Cinemas in Canada, Holland and Australia soon followed.
The Guide has now been screened at nearly 700 cinemas. It has also been shown on Capitol Hill with Congressman Seth Moulton among the notable speakers. The project has issued grants, with recipients including José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen, Ukrainian Studies Fund, Razom, the International Organization on Migration and Plast.
“We are delighted to partner with The Independent Picture House, as we continue to offer support to Ukraine through philanthropic efforts and the education of Americans. They will be providing their community members with a unique opportunity to both learn about and discuss the war’s impacts. We’re grateful for their participation, and we’re proud to be working with them in this endeavor,” said Lisa Vucelich, spokesperson for the project.
Brad Ritter, Executive Director of The Independent Picture House, added, “We are proud to partner with Stand With Ukraine Through Film and show our support for the Ukrainian people during these difficult times. We hope that the community will join us for this special event.”
For additional information, please visit:
https://www.standwithukrainethroughfilm.org/
