Jean-François Le Corre of Vivement Lundi!, a co-producer on Oscar-nominated “Flee,” and Marion Guth of a_BAHN have boarded the hybrid animated documentary “Red Zone,” from “Moon Man’s” Darya Bassel, the producer of Oscar-nominated “A House Made of Splinters.”
Leading documentary sales agency Cinephil will be introducing the project to buyers at the Cannes Film Market.
“Red Zone” is directed by Iryna Tsilyk, who won best director at Sundance for “The Earth Is as Blue as an Orange.” “Red Zone” won the Eurimages Special Co-production Development Award at CPH:DOX.
The film is based on the filmmaker’s personal experience and will “take audiences on a day in the life of a woman in war,” according to a statement, with Tsilyk “turning the camera on herself and her family.”
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Tsilyk’s husband, Artem Chekh, a well-known writer, volunteered to join the army and was in Bakhmut, where the fiercest fighting was taking place, a year ago. For five days, Tsilyk did not know if he was alive or dead. The film focuses on the anguish felt over this period and uses a series of flashbacks to illustrate their life in times of peace.
Bassel said: “With this film, we want to tell the world about our generation. We show the intimacy of everyday life during war, which is full of traumatic experiences but also infused with humor, love and the incredible power of support.”
Le Corre said: “After the amazing co-production experiences of ‘Flee,’ I was looking for a new animated documentary project with a strong point of view and a creative use of animation. After the first meeting with Iryna Tsilyk and Darya Bassel and reading the first treatment I was hooked by the story of this couple separated by war, their incredible resilience.”
Guth said: “If war is above all a lexical field of death and danger, ‘Red Zone’ also focuses on moments in the daily lives of these people who live their daily lives in wartime… While this is a bold story that is not easy to put together. Iryna’s cinematic style allows her to play skilfully with this balance.”
“Red Zone” is supported by European Solidarity Fund for Ukrainian Film, Film Fund Luxembourg, Breton Fund, Bretagne Cinéma, Eurimages, Chicken & Egg Pictures, Women Make Movies, International Media Support, IDFA Bertha Fund and documenting Ukraine (IWM).
The film is scheduled to be completed in mid-2027.
