From Volunteering to Storytelling

“The idea for this film came to me at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, while I was volunteering in western Ukraine,” Zemlyanyi recalls. “Around that time, I started attending screenwriting lectures at a local cultural center, and one of the assignments was to come up with a logline for a short film. That’s how it all began.

But what truly pushed the writing forward was the news of a humanitarian convoy being shelled near Zaporizhzhia. Not long before that, my mother had taken that same road while fleeing her hometown, which was under Russian occupation. From that moment on, I couldn’t stop thinking: what if she had been among those killed?”

Developing Unavailable at CineSud

Zemlyanyi emphasizes how formative the CineSud Directors Village was in shaping the project. “Taking part in Directors Village gave me a real push to develop both the script and the visual language of the film. I’ve never been particularly fond of writing scripts, but being surrounded by like-minded people who were all focused on their own projects was incredibly motivating.

I appreciated how naturally the group split into two approaches — some were more drawn to writing and performance, others to imagery and visual storytelling. That dynamic helped me find my own balance.

For me, the program was also an opportunity to step outside the local context of the story and begin thinking about how it might resonate with international audiences. The participants brought a wide range of perspectives and styles, so their feedback was incredibly valuable. I still stay in touch with the mentors — more on a personal level now — and they continue to be very supportive and open to conversation.”

Filming in Ukraine under fire

The production itself carried the weight of the ongoing war. “One of the most inspiring aspects of the production was our lead actor,” says Zemlyanyi. “Despite the freezing temperatures, he fully immersed himself in the role, embodying his character with such intensity that it felt as though nothing else existed for him.

The main challenges we faced were the cold — and, on the final day of shooting, a drone attack. We had no choice but to keep rolling and quickly take cover, as we were capturing a crucial shot during the golden hour. As a result, we ended up with three versions of the scene’s audio: one with the air raid siren, one with the hum of the drone, and another with the sounds of air defense systems in the background.”

A premiere with meaning

Now, with Unavailable set to premiere in Venice, Zemlyanyi reflects on the journey. “It’s a tremendous honor to be part of this festival. For a short film, a premiere at this level opens the door to many new opportunities and platforms. Thanks to this film, I was able to establish myself as a director and now feel much more confident moving forward with my feature-length project.”