Movies from the Frontline

Empowering teenagers to tell their stories through cinema made by youth, for youth.

Workshops-Movie-Festival
Teenagers living near the Ukrainian front line.
Cameras instead of silence. Through film workshops in acting, directing, and cinematography, young people from cities under constant threat turn their everyday reality into fiction films inspired by life during war. Dark humour, anxiety, friendship, drones, first love, explosions, memes, survival. These are stories created by a generation that refuses to disappear into headlines and statistics. The films are later screened at festivals and schools across Europe, where the young filmmakers meet their peers, share their experiences, and prove that even in the middle of war, creativity survives.

movies

  • GN SERIES

    10x12min, online, CZ/UA/EN, © 2026 A documentary series about a stolen childhood, growing up during war, and the humour that helps people survive. The project follows a group of teenagers in the cities close to the frontline who, through filmmaking workshops, try to capture the everyday reality of life in a country affected by war. They are young, resourceful, and creative — and they refuse to be merely passive figures in someone else’s game. Through the camera, they reclaim control over their own story.

    WATCH WHOLE SERIES HERE
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    THE WASHER BETWEEN TWO WORLDS

    2025, 4K, KHARKIV, 13 min, dark comedy Chaos and anxiety grip the city. Falling stars in broad daylight? And what are those terrifying sounds? A group of teenagers panics and gathers in one of the apartment blocks, trying to figure out how to save themselves. Is sunscreen with a UV filter the answer? Or should they wash themselves at 40°C? The drama captures the authentic emotions of young creators during the early days of the war.

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    ATTACK OF THE MUTATED MELONS

    2025, 4K, KHERSON, 10 min, dark comedy You are fifteen years old and your hometown is facing an unprecedented juicy invasion. Will you give in to the sweet temptation, or will you save your home? Can a secret stash of chips help? A film that founded the “watermelon comedy” genre, shot during real shelling in southern Ukrainian Kherson by teenage filmmakers inspired by true events. Yum!!

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    Cavun City

    2024, 4K, KHERSON, 5 min, dark comedy A juicy introduction filmed in the world capital of watermelons — the Ukrainian city of Kherson. This watermelon drama portrays the lives of young residents during wartime. The satirical film is, of course, based on true events and performed by the protagonists themselves.

  • Uninvited - currently in post-production

    2026, 4K, CHUHUIV, 7 min, horror comedy A terrifying buzzing echoes through the city. Rumors spread that giant mosquitoes are bringing chaos and destruction. The residents are furious and ready to fight the unwelcome enemy. Will they manage to destroy the winged evil with a glass jar or a pillow? Or will something more hardcore be needed? The film is based on the real experiences of teenagers living in eastern Ukrainian Chuhuiv, who shot the movie themselves during the war.

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    GN feature doc - currently in post-production

    feature-length documentary created through filmmaking workshops for young Ukrainians living near the front line. The war has taken away their homes and sense of safety, but not their voice. Through their authentic perspectives, humor, and resilience, they reveal what it means to grow up in a place where ordinary life constantly collides with danger.

with

Czech elementary school student, 14 years old - Copy - Copy

“They were actually super chill. Considering drones are literally flying over their heads, they felt completely normal. It really changed the way I see things. It’s terrifying to live that close to war. But it’s also kind of cool that we play the exact same video games.”

Czech elementary school student, 15 years old

“What I appreciated most was that even though those students found themselves in such a difficult and serious situation, they decided to do something about it and actively look for ways to cope with it, which I found deeply inspiring.”

Czech high school principal

“The workshop was powerful and focused on an important and highly relevant topic, bringing it closer to students through the real stories of their peers. I especially appreciated the use of a specific film, which gave the activities authenticity and naturally encouraged an open and meaningful discussion afterwards.”

Teen filmmaker-in-training

Nataliya

"Learning camera and sound made me feel capable again. For a few hours we weren’t just surviving-we were creating something meaningful."

Youth mentor

Yarik

"Generation Nika brought structure, care, and professional guidance. I watched teenagers grow in confidence and teamwork week by week. This is definitely much more than just a movie. This is how life unfolds, even in the midst of hell"

Teen workshop participant

Zlata

"I never thought my ideas could become a real film. The workshop gave me a team, a voice, and the courage to share our story through fiction."

 
 

who

Generation Nika is a Czech-based NGO working with teenagers in communities affected by war and social injustice. Our activities started in summer 2024. Through hands-on movie workshops, young people are creating their own fiction short films from start to finish. We provide a safe space where teens can process experiences, build confidence, and develop practical skills. The patronage of Eva Pavlová, the First Lady of the Czech Republic, further reinforces the transparency of our activities.

Alice Mirovská

social worker, focused on working with refugees in the Czech republic, she has also experience working with refugees in conflict zones worldwide, with victims of violence motivated by hatred and with people with disabilities. She was working in Czech NGO OPU and she was directrice of refugee shelter for Ukrainians in Prague. For the last four years she has been active as a volunteer in a local NGO in Kharkiv - Piatykhatky Bam.

Jakub Pinkava

filmmaker, co-founder of Free Cinema, a non-profit film education organization. Currently, he works on feature films, TV series, and commercials as a producer for Punk Film. Apart from film-making, Jakub is an active part of the Czech VR community where he develops spherical videos and their potential distribution outside of the known boundaries. His filmography as producer includes titles such as "Mucha, The Story of an Artist Who Created a Style" (2020), "When the War Comes" (2018) and "1968mm" (2018).

Vojtěch Hönig

filmmaker, author of Generation Nika project. Vojtěch spent 17 years as a cameraman and photographer in the countries of the former Soviet Union. He is the author of dozens of documentary films for Czech and foreign television. Since the beginning of the war, he has worked for Czech Television in Ukraine, where he made the award-winning documentary Ukraine: Faces of War with Michal Kubal, as well as one of the first interviews with President Volodymyr Zelensky. In August 2022, he debuted with the Slovak-Czech-Serbian feature film Welcome home, brother! His photographs have been published in many media and several books.

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