If Ukraine were to have a grand master architect, renowned on the world stage, that person would be Oleg Drosdov. However, in reality, Oleg is little known for his vanguard approach to architecture, nor for his provocative stance in placing Ukraine’s most progressive architecture school just 20km from the Russian border in Kharkiv in 2018 – on the “cultural frontline” – , as Oleg calls it.
2 weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine, the Kharkiv School of Architecture received a remarkable message to prepare and sent its students home. When war broke out, the faculty staff then quickly decided to stay in Ukraine and to continue educating their students and, they relocated the school 1050 km across Ukraine to Lviv. 6 weeks later, the school was open again and this short film follows the staff and 4 of the students in their new life in Lviv.
Director – Paul Thomas
Paul Thomas is a Grieson Nominated, multi-award winning director – best known for “American: The Bill Hicks Story”. After training as an architect, Paul worked in live television before moving to the BBC Comedy dept–working with Sacha Baron Cohen, Katherine Tate, Leigh Francis, and then moving via factual entertainment into longer form factual work. Producer-director of “American: The Bill Hicks Story”, the UK’s 2nd highest grossing theatrical documentary in 2010 – Grierson nominated in 2011. Previous work includes “Shadows of Sofia”, 2018,” American: The Bill Hicks Story”, 2010, Winner: Dallas Film Festival, LA Film Festival, Nomination: Grierson 2011 Prince William Uncovered, 2003 Big Brother’s Little Wedding, 2003 Series Director–C4 Animation Season, 2000, 2001. The Architecture Show, Discovery 1998.