“Me, Dad, Niu-York” by Mykyta Kravčenko
A young Ukrainian man, now living in New York, tries to cope with the isolation and disconnection of living far from home. Walking the streets of the city with a camera, he captures snapshots of his surroundings, each image reflecting fragments of his thoughts and memories. As he listens to news of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and hears of his hometown of Niu-York being overrun by Russian forces, his internal monologue becomes a heartfelt message to his father. Through voiceover, he reflects on his struggles with loneliness and the disconnect he feels from the life he left behind.
As he moves through the city, observing people and places with both curiosity and melancholy, his reflections reveal the weight of unresolved feelings and the hope of one day being reunited with his family. The film captures his longing for familiar comforts and his desire to bridge the emotional distance that has grown between him and his loved ones, leaving him with a bittersweet reminder of the sacrifices made in pursuit of dreams.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
“The idea for 'Me, Dad, Niu-York' came from frustration. For some reason, most of my new film ideas are too ambitious and difficult to execute with the limited resources, crew, and time I have available. After moving to New York, I started meeting local fellow filmmakers and realized I didn't have any recent work that could show them my current skills in areas like cinematography, editing, sound design, and color grading. I wanted to create something fast, simple, and personal – something I could make with just my Sony FX6 in the right hands.
It was great timing, too, because my online film school gave me the assignment to create a short narrative film in one month. I decided to use this idea to meet the deadline and finally have a piece that could showcase my relevant level of skills in film. The writing process flowed easily because it came from something very real to me. The script is essentially what I would say to my dad if I were recording him an audio message myself. I haven’t seen him in over two years, and this film became a way for me to express what it feels like to be separated from someone so important. It reflects on themes of distance, immigration, and longing for home – something that I, and so many other immigrants, and refugees experience every day.
My original plan was to be behind the camera, with a Venezuelan actor lined up to play the role. I even translated the script into Spanish to make it fit the context of a Venezuelan refugee in New York recording a message to his loved one.
But the actor had to cancel the day before we were going to shoot. I had to step in and play the role myself, not for the first time in my film experience... In fact, I'm glad it happened because it led me to find some incredible cinematographers who operated the camera while I acted. They really understood my direction and even contributed their own creative ideas, which made the whole process smoother and more collaborative.
The film explores the emotional conflict of chasing dreams while feeling disconnected from your roots and the people who mean the most. In the protagonist’s case, it’s his father, and the photos he takes throughout the film become symbols of his memories, emotions, and attempts to capture a sense of belonging in a new world. The story isn’t just about me missing my dad – it’s about anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t quite know where home is anymore.
In the end, what started as a quick visual showcase project evolved into something much deeper – a personal film-reflection on how it feels to be torn between two worlds. I hope the film speaks to people on a deeper emotional level and resonates with both filmmakers and general audiences alike.”
-Mykyta Kravčenko
CREDITS:
Written & Directed by Mykyta Kravčenko
Cinematography
Ryan Bender, Mykyta Kravčenko, Angell Sue Valencia, Christian A. Guerrero
Editing, Sound Design/Mixing & Color Grading// Mykyta Kravčenko
Music from by Claude Patterns
Starring
Mykyta Kravčenko, Ryan Bender, Christian A. Guerrero
Podcast Voice by Taya Tolmachova
Filmed On Location in New York, USA & Bogotá, Colombia
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