Ukrainian director Ivan Tymchenko spoke to Cineuropa following his victory in securing the Eurimages Special Co-production Development Award with his project English Lesson during the recent Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event (see the news). The accolade is accompanied by a €20,000 cash prize. Written by Olga Voitenko, the project is being produced by Svitlana Soloviova for Svitlofor Film, and is a co-production between Ukraine, Estonia, Sweden and the Czech Republic.

Cineuropa: Could you elaborate on your project, its narrative essence and the key elements that make it stand out?
Ivan Tymchenko: English Lesson is an animated feature that follows the stories of children of various ages. During an online English lesson, the teacher asks the students to talk about themselves, their families and their hometowns. Diana, a 12-year-old girl, starts by lovingly describing her small town by the river, her friends and her family. However, her story takes a turn as she recalls the occupation, the destruction of the dam and her escape. She shares how she crossed the river to safety on a boat, rescuing animals stranded on the islands along the way.

Other children pick up the topic, sharing their own experiences. In this project, war is the backdrop – it’s a force that transforms lives. These stories are about courage, resilience, humanity and reevaluating values. While the war looms large, our aim is not to depict its horrors, but rather to share inspiring stories with optimistic endings. English also plays a significant role, as the teacher gently corrects mistakes and explains the nuances of the language, adding a unique charm to the narrative.

Could you share anything about the current stage of development for your project and your immediate priorities as you move forward?
We are currently completing the research and beginning work on the script. We’re actively exploring stories and characters, having conducted dozens of interviews with children. Many of them are harrowing and difficult to discuss, but others are inspiring and heroic. Our biggest challenge now is deciding which topics to highlight in this project while leaving some for later. Since this is a children’s film, we must approach the content with great care. A key element of the project will be its basis in children’s drawings, which is both a creative and a complex task – merging their imagination with animation in a meaningful way.

How would you reflect on your experience at this year’s Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, and what made it stand out for you?
It was truly an amazing event – not just because we got the award, although that is incredibly important for the project. It provided a chance to evaluate our ideas, observe others and engage in meaningful exchanges. The networking opportunities were invaluable, and we’ve gained new partners and opened doors to exciting possibilities. I’m especially grateful to the festival for showcasing such remarkable films.

How do you plan to leverage the Eurimages Special Co-production Development Award to further your project’s progress?
An award from Eurimages is like a stamp of quality – it boosts the project’s credibility and opens many doors. The financial aspect is equally significant, as it ensures that critical developmental stages like scripting and illustration concept development can be completed. This support allows us to keep moving forward with confidence.

How challenging is it to produce your new film in the current global context, and do you have an estimated timeline for its completion?
Ten years ago, after the annexation of Crimea, we made a short video asking children, “What is war?” Most of them didn’t know the answer, and we believed that was how it should be – children shouldn’t have to understand war. Since then, their futures have taken different paths. Some have emigrated, others remain in Ukraine, and the oldest boy – who was 14 at the time – is now preparing for military service.

Globally, the number of conflicts is increasing, making it harder to avoid addressing this topic. Perhaps it’s time to talk about it, to explain what war is as well as its consequences. Many still believe war is a subject unsuitable for children or something that happens far away. But we thought that, too, once. Through English Lesson, we aim to approach this sensitive topic carefully, with the ultimate goal of educating and inspiring both children and families.