Filmmaker Gambles Home for Art Amidst War

Director Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk is making a bold financial decision, mortgaging his family's apartment to fund his new film, "Something Strange Happened to Me." This move comes amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022. Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk sees the apartment as already at risk due to the conflict, leading him to prioritize his artistic vision.

The film's narrative centers on an architecture teacher who, while restoring her home, engages in unconventional psychological sessions with a neighbor. These sessions unexpectedly trigger a mysterious chain of events, transporting them over a century into the past.

Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk was inspired to create concepts with strong ideas and lower budgets following the full-scale invasion. He experimented with the idea of family constellation therapy, initially developing it as a play before adapting it into a screenplay that blends genres like Greek tragedy, fairytale, and body horror.

The production plans to use distinct aesthetics for the present and past timelines, with the historical sequences to be shot on 16mm film to capture a specific, imperfect historical feel. While some funding has been secured from the European Solidarity Fund for Ukrainian Films, the team is still seeking co-producers and partners at the Venice Gap-Financing Market.

Despite the challenges of filmmaking in a war-torn country, including waning international attention and safety concerns, Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk and his executive producer, Diana Nazaruk, emphasize the need for strong artistic visions to succeed. "Something Strange Happened to Me" is produced by Mellivora Production LLC in co-production with the U.K.'s Wellington Films.