Azad Safarov is a Ukrainian producer working with Sky News journalists in Ukraine. He can be the assistant director and line producer for the Oscar-nominated documentary movie ‘A House Made Of Splinters’.
Here he writes about going from the frontline to the pink carpet.
Do you want motion pictures? I do, however typically actual life is even crazier than the films.
In only a quick area of time I’ve gone from being on the frontline in Ukraine, to making ready to stroll the pink carpet on the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles. And it is a unusual feeling.
I used to be born right into a poor household in Azerbaijan, and due to the warfare in Nagorny Karabakh and monetary issues, my household determined to maneuver to Ukraine. We settled in Donetsk and have become Ukrainian residents.
I used to be eight years previous on the time, and even then, all I wished to do was make motion pictures. My cousin and I filmed quick sketches and dreamt of promoting them to Hollywood.
My mom suggested me to turn into a journalist, as a result of she believed it was essentially the most peaceable career in Ukraine. But no sooner had I graduated from college and moved to Kyiv in 2014, the protests on the Maidan started – and consequently the warfare.
As a tv journalist, I’ve labored all over the place in Ukraine. Under fireplace on the frontline, and undercover within the Russian-occupied territory of Ukraine.
My level is, I’m far more snug in a 12-kilogram bulletproof vest and a helmet than a black-tie tuxedo.
I utilized for a particular 21-day allow to depart the nation after I was advised that I used to be going to the ceremony.
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It was granted, and I made a decision I wished to put on a sweatshirt or a t-shirt, something with an inscription or the state coat of arms of Ukraine. But they defined to me that the organisers would merely not let me inside, there’s a strict costume code.
‘Deprived of the best to be comfortable’
I’ve been dreaming of this second all my life.
I used to look at Oscar ceremonies and picture successful; I’d think about how proud my mother and father, family and friends can be if I ever received the award.
But now the second has come, and I’ve a nomination, I am unable to say it too loudly or be too comfortable about it.
“Aren’t you jumping for joy?! This is the Oscars! That’s super cool!” my pals say to me on a regular basis.
I’m comfortable, in fact, however the pleasure is blended with unhappiness, as a result of so long as I’m right here in Los Angeles, on the frontline in Ukraine daily, each hour actually, troopers are dying, defending our nation from our neighbour.
I can’t put up humorous footage on social media, as a result of at this very time, tens of millions of Ukrainian civilians are affected by Russia’s aggression and missiles.
It looks like Russia has disadvantaged us of the best to be comfortable, to achieve success, the best to take pleasure in life, the best to easily snort out loud.
A House Made of Splinters is in regards to the penalties of the warfare
The penalties of warfare
Our Oscar-nominated documentary movie, A House Made of Splinters, can be in regards to the penalties of the warfare.
The director is the proficient Danish filmmaker Simon Lereng Wilmont who I began working with again in 2015, and that is our second movie from Ukraine. The first one, The Distant Barking of Dogs, made the Oscar shortlist in 2019.
A House Made of Splinters is about youngsters rising up in a brief shelter subsequent to the warfare. It is unhappy, however on the similar time, it’s a movie about hope. It’s about how Ukrainian youngsters battle for their very own happiness, childhood, and the best to dwell in a household and really feel love, even whereas the warfare rages on.
It’s an vital story to inform, and we now have an vital mission that goes past.
I co-founded the NGO, the Voices of Children Charitable Foundation, with the documentary’s marketing consultant and human rights activist Olena Rozvadovska, and after the Russian invasion, we helped 1000’s of youngsters, and their households evacuate from the frontline. But the wants are solely rising.
Azad additionally says the film is a movie about hope
Azad Safarov made it to Los Angeles
The total manufacturing group understands that we’re competing with huge firms and large names on the Oscars, with huge budgets for promoting their nominees.
But to win can be unbelievable, in these darkish instances we wish to give no less than one small piece of pleasure to the nation, which has been preventing for freedom and the happiness of being free for therefore lengthy.
And with this in thoughts, I’ll go to the ceremony and hope for the most effective. I’ll take two issues with me: my father’s damaged watch – he died after I was 13 years previous – and a brooch within the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
And no, I cannot disable the air raid alert app on my cellphone if there’s a notification about it from Ukraine, as a result of to me, the Oscars is yet one more platform to remind the world in regards to the warfare.
You can watch the Academy Awards on Sunday 12 March from 11pm solely on Sky News and Sky Showcase. And for all the pieces it’s essential to know forward of the ceremony, do not miss our particular Backstage podcast, out now, plus look out for our particular episode on the winners from Monday morning.
Source: information.sky.com”
