In 2023, I befriended a Ukrainian filmmaker and frontline journalist, Mariia Pankova, who shared her story (and harrowing footage) of Kyiv under siege when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

In 2024, I screened and performed a Ukranian edition of Attack, Decay, Release as part of my residency at the Ouray International Film Festival which had a focus on Ukraine that year (hats off to Grand Jury Prize winner, Ukranian filmmaker Max Rykov) and I directed attention and discussion to the current state of the invasion of Ukraine.

As world events catch up with us, it is definitely important that we shine a light on current large scale injustices like the civil war in Sudan, the occupation of Gaza and the escalating violence in Myanmar, Ethiopia and DRC. With that said, I do believe that we had a botched meeting between our president and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last year and the focus on Ukraine has dissipated. This is happening at the worst time when Russia launched 126 ballistic missiles at Ukraine in one month alone. Without taking the current media coverage away from the rest of the world, I want to ask: Have we forgotten about Ukraine? It is important to pay attention because the ongoing war impacts global security and international stability.

That, and Mariia Pankova is my friend and every time she sends me videos from the front lines, my heart races. Every time she attends another friend’s funeral, my heart breaks. Watching her footage of civilians, whole families, learning how to fire weapons forces me to imagine myself with my mother and grandmother in line for rifles and grenades. It’s unthinkable. And at one time, we supported Ukraine.

In 2026, I’m screening and performing another edition of the film, this time it’s the Attack, Decay, Release: Monte Rio Edition who had recently lit their bridge yellow and blue in support of Ukraine.

Here is a link to the Drone Initiative from the Ukraine Relief Fund, founded by American Air Force veteran Johnny Rogers.

U.R.F. Drone Initiative
https://donorbox.org/drone-initiative

If you attended the Attack, Decay, Release: Monte Rio Edition, thank you for coming. And thank you for visiting this page. I thank you and Mariia Pankova thanks you.

xoxohp