Calling Ukraine

A film by

the Netherlands | 12' | 05/2015 | documentary

Through a Skype call the daily life, dreams and fears of a family in Eastern-Ukraine is revealed while the bombs are falling in the background. A grandmother in Latvia phones with her sister and child who live in the war zone of Eastern-Ukraine, months without often having water and electricity. We see the traces of the war on the face of the grandmother who, like the viewer is powerless.

Jean Counet

Biography

Dutch director, cinematographer, and photographer Jean Counet has already filmed and directed in many different countries, from his home in the Netherlands to Latvia to Taiwan. He is known for his minimalistic style and precise camera work. To date he has directed short and medium-length films, such as his documentary look inside a Latvian hospital Inhale Exhale (2011), Trulichka (2005) and La-bas (2003)

Filmography

  • Apинa (2002), 5’
  • Là-bas (2002), 3’
  • AFMIN (2004), 23’
  • Trulichka (2005), 43’
  • Don’t Stop Loving (2009), 5’
  • Inhale Exhale (2010), 43’
  • Calling Ukraine (2015), 12’
Square Eyes -

Crew

Director: Jean Counet
Screenplay: Jean Counet
Researcher: Natalija Gnezdova
Producer: Jos de Putter
Line Producer: Natalija Gnezdova
Cinematographer: Jean Counet
Sound: Jean Counet
Editor: Jean Counet

Festivals

  • Docutiff Tirana International Film Festival, Albania (2015) (9 – 13 May, 2015)
    Short Film Competition
  • River Film Festival, Italy (28 May – 13 June, 2015)
    Documentary Competition
  • XpoNorth, Scotland (10 – 11 June, 2015)
    Film Showcase
  • Festival du Film Court en Plein Air, France (7 – 12 July, 2015)
    Regards Selection
  • shnit International Shortfilmfestival (7 – 18 October, 2015)
    International Competition shnit OPEN
  • Sarmat Independent International Film Festival, Russia (25 October – 1 November, 2015)
    Official Competition Won: Grand Prix for Documentary
  • Diamand in the Rough Independent Film Festival (25 – 27 September, 2015)
    Official Selection
  • Hong Kong Arthouse Film Festival, Hong Kong (1 – 8 November, 2015)
    Won: Best Documentary Short Film
  • International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Netherlands (18 – 29 November, 2015)
    Panorama Section
  • Festival dei Popoli – International Documentary Film Festival (27 November – 4 December, 2015)
    Out of Competition: De Correspondent
  • IV Family Film Project, Italy (8 – 12 December, 2015)
    Official Competition Special Mention
  • Go Short – International Short Film Festival Nijmegen (6 – 10 April, 2016)
    Out of competition: De Correspondent Presents
  • Addis International Film Festival, Ethiopia (5 – 10 May, 2016)
    International Competition
  • Cinema Jove – Valencia International Film Festival, Spain (17 – 24 June, 2016)
    Official Short Film Section
  • Rooftop Films, USA (20 Juli, 2016)
    IDFA Selection
  • Docfest – Cross-Border Documentary Film Festival, the Netherlands (15 – 18 September, 2016)
  • Helsinki International Film Festival, Finland (15 – 25 September, 2016)
    Official Short Film Selection
  • Festival CineMigrante, Argentina (11 – 19 October, 2016)
    International Short Film Competition Won: Best International Short Film
  • Un festival c’est trop court! – Nice Short Film Festival, France (14 – 21 October, 2016)
    European Competition
  • Izmir International Short Film Festival, Turkey (2 – 6 November, 2016)
    Out of competition
  • International Short Film Festival Ciudad de Soria, Spain (13 – 27 November, 2016)
    Official Selection
  • L’Alternativa – Festival de Cinema Independent de Barcelona, Spain (14 – 20 November, 2016)
    Out of Competition: l’Alternativa Hall Selects
  • Kassel Documentary Film and Video Festival, Germany (15 – 20 November, 2016)
    International Competition
  • BOGOSHORTS – Bogotá Short Film Festival, Colombia (6 – 13 December, 2016)
    Out of Competition: Reconcilement