You're A Boy Now

"You're a boy now. So they won't touch you." - a short film about a young woman and the ramifications of war.

To protect her daughter from being raped by Russian soldiers, the mother of 18-year-old Slava cuts her hair like a boy and forcibly takes her to Germany, where she tries to start a new life while dealing with the trauma of war and her stolen identity.

Funding period

5/5/23 - 6/12/23

Realisation

June 2023

Minimum amount (Start level): 1,000 €

The money will be used for production costs such as location rents, travel expenses, costumes, props, set design, catering and more.

City

Dortmund

What is this project all about?

The destruction of the war is well documented in the media in terms of numbers and statistics. What the media doesn’t show is what the war does to the people. Our film tells the very real experience of a young Ukrainian woman.

What is the project goal and who is the project for?

With this film we aspire to give an insight into the life of a survivor. To give an impression of what war and refuge can do to a person, especially a young woman. The target audience is humans. No matter the age, gender or origin - it’s a story everyone can take something away from.

Why would you support this project?

The war in Ukraine is gruesome. Which is why it is so important that the small stories are told as well. The stories that play out in the heads of the people who lost everything as opposed to the battlefield. At the same time this project supports Ukrainian voices, as some of our team members, including the director, are from Ukraine and have experienced the war first hand.

How will we use the money if the project is successfully funded?

Ideally we wouldn’t compromise on this film. The story deserves to be told in an appropriate way. But making movies is expensive. From renting locations and gas prices to props, costumes and catering - every aspect is more important (and more expensive) than the last and every last cent contributes to getting the best out of them.

Who are the people behind the project?

Lili Malysh - Director
Lili studied film at the Academy of Cinema and New Media in Kyiv but fled to Germany in June 2022, four months after the invasion. Here she met her team while continuing her studies in Dortmund. She is the creator behind the story.

Olesia Kasko - Assistant Director
Olesia studied at the Academy of Cinema and New Media in Kyiv as well and came to Germany a little over a year ago. With her particular interest in script writing she helps Lili in making the story the best it can be.

Olivia Boz - Head of Production
In order for everything to go smoothly there is a lot of planning and preparation required that starts months before shooting. As a production assistant Olivia has been able to gain experience on a number of projects. Now in her 4th semester she tries her hand as head of production for the first time.

Jakob Klingel - Director of Photography
In his 4th semester Jakob already has more set-experience than most students. With a practiced eye and a knack for technology he brings the visuals of the script to life. He makes sure the pictures are just as captivating as the story itself.

Nils Böttcher - Sound Design
Sound is one of the most important components in film and even more so in “You’re A Boy Now”. With the sound design Nils won’t just take us to Ukraine, he will take us into the head of the protagonist. After many years as a sound editor in theater he now studies sound design in his 4th semester.

Eva Behrens - Editor
Everything comes together on Evas desk and she manages to make a whole out of parts. She is especially fascinated by the creativity this work requires and how the film writes itself anew in editing. Eva has already edited numerous smaller projects and tries her hand for the first time at a major short film with “You’re A Boy Now”.

And many more talented and dedicated students who give this project their all!

You're A Boy Now

Olivia Boz

Helena Schmitz

Jakob Klingel

What are the sustainable development goals of this project?

Primary sustainable development goal

Peace

Why does this project contribute to this goal?

We’re not powerless when it comes to world events. With “You’re A Boy Now” we want to create an awareness for the consequences of the war and inspire people to campaign for peaceful and peacemaking politics.

An environmentally friendly approach is very important to us. We keep commutes short, reduce car uses to the minimum and use reusable plates instead of plastic ones.