Private Project

MOTHER OF APOSTLES

In 2014, Sofia's peaceful life was invaded by the war, when she received a news informing her that the humanitarian plane that her son was flying was shot down over the occupied territory, where there is war.

After receiving an unsatisfactory response from the military regarding her son's life, she packs a small suitcase and travels to the occupied territory, to find her son.

Sofia understands the danger, however is determined to find her son. While traveling by bus, at the border, she gets saved from the militants by a local resident - Fedir.

Fedir treats Sofia with sympathy, takes care of her and agrees to help her with finding her son. Sofia finds out from Fedir that the pilots are being hunted by the russian mercenary by the name of Malahin and his squad, as you can trade a pilot for a russian officer from the ukrainian side, or get a hefty bounty from the russian side. However, Malahin is not the only one on the bounty hunt for pilots, as is the local mercenary leader by the nickname Coyote, who used to be a local detective that chose to travel on the mercenary path, for monetary gain, and is not afraid to go against Malahin.

The news channels have shared a news story, that Coyote has picked up a wounded pilot, and placed him in a local hospital under his own security. Sofia, not minding the risk, runs to the hospital. At the same time, Malahin travels to the hospital, and has a conflict with Coyote.

Disguised as a nurse, Sofia goes past the security and ends up in the same room as the wounded. He turns out to be a friend of her son, one of the members of the plane crew that got shot down. Sofia decides to get the wounded out of the hospital as soon as possible. With help of Fedir, they are able to get him out, however, during the chase, Fedir is wounded. They end up in an empty village engulfed in war, in Fedir's parents house.

Sofia, understanding the danger of staying too long in this village, got in contact with ukrainian scouts and handed over the wounded to them, and they transported him to Ukraine.

Finding out the location of the crash site from the wounded, Sofia, not thinking twice, and not minding the danger and risk associated with it, travels to that location.

Tired while walking through a field, Sofia stumbles upon a minefield and returns to the nearest settlement. She ends up at a small village, and meets a woman by the similar name of Sonya, at the edge of the village. The woman is preparing a funeral meal for her son, who died fighting against Ukraine.

The pain of losing loved ones brings the women together, they become ftiends understanding the absurdity of war and they prepare the food together. Sofia learned from Sonya that Ilya, her husband, has been at the plane crash site and asks him to help guide her to the crash site, as she believes that he is still alive. Ilya informs her, that while he was at the crash site, he found the bodies of two pilots and buried them there.

He mentions to Sofia that he saw how the plane was falling, and if not for the heroic actions of the commander of the plane, the plane would have crashed into the village. Therefore with his own life, he has saved the lives of many villagers.

Coyote comes to the memorial service, and he turns out to be the brother of Sonya. Noticing Sofia, he remembers her from the hospital, and that she was the one who got the wounded pilot out. Unexpectedly, the mercenary Malahin has stormed into the house with his crew, as he searches for the missing pilot.

Blaming each other for the betrayal, Coyote and Malahin engage in a conflict, in which Malahin suspects the parents of Coyote and kills them. Sofiya, in the meantime, with fear, observes the meaningless bloodshed.

Sofia, arrested by Coyote, gets transported to Malahins headquarters, where Coyote and Malahin get into another conflict, during which Coyote kills Malahin and runs off.

Sofia gets saved by a Ukrainian scout, who transports her to the crash site. At the burial site, Sofia says goodbye to her son, and taking a handful of freshly placed soil, returns home.

  • Zaza Buadze
    Director
    2020 “Umbrella Sky” – in production 2020 “Chervonyi. No Front Lines”. – in postproduction 2018 “Call Sign Banderas” – Filmmakers IFF (London). I Filmmaker IFF (Spain) 2017 “Chervonyi” 2013 “And God Stepped Out in Space” – 30min. – Athens IFF, Uppsala IFF, Tbilisi short film international festival 2010 “The Sunwheel” – TV movie 2008 “Absurdistan” - screenplay - Dir. Veit Helmer (Sundance Film Festival 2008, Bruxelles Fantasporto 2009 Grand Prix, Moscow Film Festival 2008, Chicago 2008, Karlovy vary 2008, Athens 2008) 2008 “The Red Lotus” – TV movie (Moscow International Detective Film Festival) 2008 “Money for Daughter” – TV movie 1991 “The Wall” – Dresden IFF
  • Ratha Makeenkova
    Writer
    2019 Hearts unite in heaven, Short film "Suspended Coffee" (Winner of the competition "My Movie 2" - 2018), 2017 Cartoon series "Mom hurries home" 2016 TV series "Second Life" 2015 TV series "Dreams" 2015 Series "Dana" (Kazakhstan)
  • Zaza Buadze
    Writer
  • Dmytro Ovechkin
    Producer
    2019 The Gendelyk
  • Natalia Polovinka
    Key Cast
    "mother Sofia Kulik"
    2018 Eter 2013 Brother. The final confession.
  • Bohdan Benyuk
    Key Cast
    "Fedir"
    2000 - Black Council 2003 - Tomorrow will be tomorrow 2006 - Utesov. Life song 2007 - When you do not expect her at all 2007 - Liquidation 2008 - Mysterious Island 2010 - Kandahar 2011 - Diamond Hunters 2012 - Ursus (Germany-Georgia) 2013 - We are from Jazz 2 2013 - Ivan Strength 2018 - The Secret Diary of Simon Petlyura 2019 - Taras. Return
  • Oleksandr Pozharsky
    Key Cast
    "Coyote"
    2019 Infernal Khorugv, or Cossack Christmas, 2020 Taras. Return (Kazakhstan, Ukraine) 2019 bite of a she-wolf 2019 Mr. Jones | Man Made (United Kingdom, Poland, Ukraine) 2019 Animals 2019 Artist 2018 Souvenir from Odessa 2018 Call Opera 2018 Call Opera 2018 Paratroopers 2018 breath of death 2018 Sorceress 2018 Noble Tramps 2017 What is your wife doing? 2017 Saturday 2017 Foundlings-2 2017 Dog-2 2017 Sniffer-3
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Мати Апостолів
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    2 hours
  • Completion Date:
    October 2, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    900,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Ukraine
  • Country of Filming:
    Ukraine
  • Language:
    Russian, Ukrainian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital - Arri Mini Alexa
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2,35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • III International Film Festival "Bukovina"
    Chernivtsi
    November 28, 2020
    National premiere
    Best National Feature Film
  • III International Film Festival "Bukovina"
    Chernivtsi
    November 28, 2020
    National premiere
    best actor
  • 10th International Filmmaker Festival of New York
    New York
    May 21, 2021
    North American Premiere
    Best Feature Film
  • 10th International Filmmaker Festival of New York
    New York
    May 21, 2021
    North American Premiere
    Best Actress Award
  • 10th International Filmmaker Festival of New York
    New York
    May 21, 2021
    North American Premiere
    Best Screenplay Award
  • 7th Nevada Women's Film Festival
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    June 21, 2021
    The Best film
  • 11th Social World Film Festival
    Vico Equence
    July 17, 2021
    National premiere
    Best music scorer
  • 11th Social World Film Festival
    Vico Equence
    July 17, 2021
    National premiere
    Special Mention of the Quality Jury
  • Berlin Film Week
    Berlin
    June 1, 2021
    National premiere
    Semi-Finalist
  • PriFest - Prishtina International Film Festival
    Prishtina
    August 25, 2021
    Regional premiere
    official selected
  • 24th Religion Today Film Festival
    Trento
    September 22, 2021
    official selected
  • 10th International Film Festival "Cinema and You"
    Mariupol
    September 2, 2021
    The Best Actress
  • KINOLITOPYS | 18 KYIV INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
    Kyiv
    September 11, 2021
    Golden Shot
  • New York Film Week
    New York
    October 26, 2021
    The Best Actress
  • Ontario International Film Festival
    Toronto
    October 25, 2021
    National premiere
    The Best Cinematography
  • Ontario International Film Festival
    Toronto
    October 25, 2021
    National premiere
    The Best Director
  • Ontario International Film Festival
    Toronto
    October 25, 2021
    National premiere
    The Best Actress
  • Ontario International Film Festival
    Toronto
    October 25, 2021
    National premiere
    The Best Actor Supporting
  • 7th Calella Film Festival
    Calella
    October 15, 2021
    National premiere
    The Best Film
  • 7th Calella Film Festival
    Calella
    October 15, 2021
    National premiere
    The Best Director
  • All Ukrainian award in the field of culture and arts
    Kyiv
    June 17, 2021
    Best National Feature Film
  • All Ukrainian award in the field of culture and arts
    Kyiv
    June 17, 2021
    The Best Director
  • All Ukrainian award in the field of culture and arts
    Kyiv
    June 17, 2021
    The Best Producer
  • The Best Artist
    Kyiv
    September 10, 2021
    The Best Producer
  • 17th Terni Film Festival
    Terny
    November 14, 2021
    The Best Actress
  • 17th Terni Film Festival
    Terni
    November 14, 2021
    The Best Scorer
  • 17th Terni Film Festival
    Terni
    November 14, 2021
    Grand-Prix
  • 17th Terni Film Festival
    Terni
    November 14, 2021
    The Best Film, Vatican Ecumenical Jury
  • 18 th Kyiv International Film Festival KINOLITOPYS
    Kyiv
    Ukraine
    October 7, 2021
    «Golden Shot»
  • 2nd Paradise Film Festival
    Budapest
    Hungary
    March 3, 2022
    Hungary premiere
    «Best Feature Film»
  • 5th Golden Wheat Awards
    İstanbul
    Turkey
    March 31, 2022
    Turkey Premiere
    «Best Feature Film»
  • 4th Rome Prisma Film Awards
    Rome
    Italy
    March 5, 2022
    «Best Feature Film»
  • 4th Rome Prisma Film Awards
    Rome
    Italy
    March 5, 2022
    «Best music scorer»
  • 4th Rome Prisma Film Awards
    Rome
    Italy
    March 5, 2022
    «Best costume design»
  • 4th Rome Prisma Film Awards
    Rome
    Italy
    March 5, 2022
    «Best trailer»
  • Cannes World Film Festival
    Cannes, French Riviera
    France
    March 5, 2022
    France Premiere
    «Best Narrative Feature Film», «Best Director»
  • Cannes World Film Festival
    Cannes, French Riviera
    France
    March 5, 2022
    France Premiere
    «Best Director»
  • Cannes World Film Festival
    Cannes, French Riviera
    France
    March 5, 2022
    France Premiere
    «Best Composers»
  • Cannes World Film Festival
    Cannes, French Riviera
    France
    March 5, 2022
    France Premiere
    «Best Producer»
  • High Tatras Film & Video Festival
    Vysoké Tatry
    Slovakia
    March 26, 2022
    Slovakia Premiere
    «Best Picture (Film of the Season)»
  • Silk Road Film Awards Cannes
    Cannes
    France
    April 1, 2022
    «Grand Prize Feature Film»
  • Silk Road Film Awards Cannes
    Cannes
    France
    April 1, 2022
    «Best Director»
  • Silk Road Film Awards Cannes
    Cannes
    France
    April 1, 2022
    «Best Composers»
  • Silk Road Film Awards Cannes
    Cannes
    France
    April 1, 2022
    «Best Actress»
  • Silk Road Film Awards Cannes
    Cannes
    France
    April 1, 2022
    «Best Cinematographer»
  • Paris Film Awards
    Paris
    France
    March 31, 2022
    «Best Cinematography»
  • Paris Film Awards
    Paris
    France
    March 31, 2022
    «Best Original Scorer»
  • Paris Film Awards
    Paris
    France
    March 31, 2022
    «Best Editing»
  • Paris Film Awards
    Paris
    France
    March 31, 2022
    «Best Picture»
  • Paris Film Awards
    Paris
    France
    March 31, 2022
    «Honorable Mention Actress»
  • Paris Film Awards
    Paris
    France
    March 31, 2022
    «Honorable Mention Screenplay»
  • Paris Film Awards
    Paris
    France
    March 31, 2022
    «Honorable Mention Sound Design»
  • Hollywood Gold Awards
    Los Angeles
    United States
    March 25, 2022
    «Silver Feature Film»
  • "Echoes of Katyn » International Film Festival on Totalitarianisms
    Warshawa
    Poland
    April 9, 2022
    «Best Feature Film»
  • 6th FIVE CONTINENTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
    Puerto la Cruz
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    June 3, 2022
    South America premiere
    «Best Drama»
  • 6th FIVE CONTINENTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
    Puerto la Cruz
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    June 3, 2022
    South America premiere
    «Best Director»
  • 6th FIVE CONTINENTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
    Puerto la Cruz
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    June 3, 2022
    South America premiere
    «Best Original Score»
  • 6th FIVE CONTINENTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
    Puerto la Cruz
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    June 3, 2022
    South America premiere
    «Best Producer»
  • 6th FIVE CONTINENTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
    Puerto la Cruz
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    June 3, 2022
    South America premiere
    «Best Art Direction»
  • 6th FIVE CONTINENTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
    Puerto la Cruz
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
    June 3, 2022
    South America premiere
    «Special Mention - Lead Actress»
  • 2nd Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente de Madrid (FICIMAD)
    Madrid
    Spain
    June 9, 2022
    «Best Feature Film»
  • Ouchy Film Awards
    Lausanne
    Switzerland
    August 17, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Adolph Zukor International Film Festival
    Mátészalka
    Hungary
    August 16, 2022
    Hungarian Premier
    Best International Feature Film
  • Adolph Zukor International Film Festival
    Mátészalka
    Hungary
    August 16, 2022
    Hungarian Premier
    Best Director
  • Adolph Zukor International Film Festival
    Mátészalka
    Hungary
    August 16, 2022
    Hungarian Premier
    Best Producer
  • Adolph Zukor International Film Festival
    Mátészalka
    Hungary
    August 16, 2022
    Hungarian Premier
    Best Actress
  • Adolph Zukor International Film Festival
    Mátészalka
    Hungary
    August 16, 2022
    Hungarian Premier
    Special Award «Starscron LTD»
  • Golden FEMI Film Festival
    Sofia
    Bulgaria
    June 13, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Asia Film Art International Film Festival
    Hong Kong
    Hong Kong
    July 23, 2022
    Best Feature Film
  • Blacksphere festival
    Javorník
    Czech Republic
    June 26, 2022
    Official Selection
  • AFIN International Film Festival
    Brisbane
    Australia
    August 12, 2022
    Finalist
  • Sofia Art Film Awards
    Sofia
    Bulgaria
    August 5, 2022
    Best Feature Film
  • Freedom Festival International
    West Columbia
    United States
    August 27, 2022
    Best Feature Film
  • Freedom Festival International
    West Columbia
    United States
    August 27, 2022
    Best Cinematography
  • Västerås Film Festival
    Västerås
    Sweden
    August 29, 2022
    Best International Feature Film
  • Västerås Film Festival
    Västerås
    Sweden
    August 29, 2022
    Best International Feature Film Director
  • Västerås Film Festival
    Västerås
    Sweden
    August 29, 2022
    Best International Feature Film Screenplay
  • BLASTOFF
    Los Angeles
    United States
    August 31, 2022
    Best Feature Film
  • 19th The International Film and Television Festival SIMFEST
    Mures
    Romania
    September 4, 2022
    Romanian premiere
    Grand Prix
  • Apulia Web Fest
    BARI
    Italy
    September 3, 2022
    Official Selected
  • AFIN International Film Festival
    Brisbane
    Australia
    August 17, 2022
    Australian Premier
    Official selection
  • INCA IMPERIAL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
    Lima
    Peru
    June 14, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Kurdistan International Independent Film Festival
    Erbil
    Iraq
    September 9, 2022
    Iraqi Premiere
    The Best Feature Film
  • Kurdistan International Independent Film Festival
    Erbil
    Iraq
    September 9, 2022
    Iraqi Premiere
    Best Supporting Actor
  • Kurdistan International Independent Film Festival
    Erbil
    Iraq
    September 9, 2022
    Iraqi Premiere
    Best Leading Actress
Director Biography - Zaza Buadze

Film director, script writer
Voting member of European Film Academy
Born in 1962, Kutaisi, Georgia

Education
2009-2010 — Mediterranean Film Institute script workshop (Nissiros, Samos, Greece)
2002-2003 — Nipkow program scholarship (Berlin, Germany)
1987-1990 — Higher courses of directors and screenwriters (Moscow), workshop of Sergey Solovyov.
1979-1984 — Tbilisi State University. Faculty of Oriental Studies.

Films
2021 “Ogre`s kiss" - in preproduction, Ukraine-Italy-Lithuania
2020 “Umbrella Sky” – in postproduction
2020 “Chervonyi. No Front Lines”. – in postproduction
2018 “Call Sign Banderas” – Filmmakers IFF (London). I Filmmaker IFF (Spain)
2017 “Chervonyi”
2013 “And God Stepped Out in Space” – 30min. – Athens IFF, Uppsala IFF, Tbilisi short film international festival
2010 “The Sunwheel” – TV movie
2008 “Absurdistan” - screenplay - Dir. Veit Helmer (Sundance Film Festival 2008, Bruxelles Fantasporto 2009 Grand Prix, Moscow Film Festival 2008, Chicago 2008, Karlovy vary 2008, Athens 2008)
2008 “The Red Lotus” – TV movie (Moscow International Detective Film Festival)
2008 “Money for Daughter” – TV movie
1991 “The Wall” – Dresden IFF

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The film based on true stories. The director, in tandem with the wonderful play by the actress, managed to organically reveal the image of an Ukrainian woman, combine a tense, drama filled story with the feminine image of the main character. Through the eyes of the main character, we see the life of people living in the occupied territories, the faces distorted by the war, the crop-devastated farmland, the life that was stopped by the war.

The woman suddenly finds herself in a completely alien and aggressive world, where everything is full of hostility, hatred, misunderstanding and unwillingness to understand others. In this hell, she is not only looking for her son, but having in her heart great love and merciful character, she changes all who she meets in her way. And most importantly, she transforms herself - she finds a truly sacred power, she fights a senseless war and in her eyes despair, insecurity and fear are reborn in the eternal mother spirit of the land, that returns the sons home - dead or alive.

The distinction of the Mother of Apostles is the almost unique manner in which it tells its stories -
showing the opposition of antagonists, by exposing the conflict and then we unravel it ourselves. We do not analyze who is right and who is wrong. We walk their paths with the main character, avoiding critical turns in favor of a colorful description of the heroine, showing the depth of her image.

P.S. Last year, after talking with selectors from several international festivals, the director made some improvements to the film's storyline and music. The film has significantly improved its artistic quality.