Crew United launched the online platform "Filmmakers-for-Ukraine"

In the days after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine, the team at the film network Crew United decided to turn their attention to doing what they normally do for the film industry as a whole, specifically for the people of Ukraine, and that is bring people together and provide them with verified information. The online platform “Filmmakers-for-Ukraine” is an information site where Ukrainian filmmakers and their families can find help fast.

By Romanita Oprea

“Our actual mission is to connect people to make films together, but right now it is just more important to bring people together to help people,” Crew United’s CEO Oliver Zenglein explains, drawing on the resources from his extensive network for assistance. 

In collaboration with professional associations, institutions and numerous colleagues from the film industry, Crew United has worked day and night since the first attacks to create an online platform with the declared goal of informing people in a simple and up-to-the-minute way about offers of aid coming from all European countries. The support is specifically oriented towards Ukrainian filmmakers and their families, and towards disadvantaged groups and minorities in Ukraine, such as BIPoC, LGBTQIA+, Roma, people with disabilities, children, and sick and elderly people. 

The platform provides people in Ukraine seeking help and people who wish to offer support with information on the issues of transport, shelter, work, medical assistance, food, clothing, etc. as well as contacts to psychological and legal aid.  Specializing on information from the film industry, “Filmmakers-for-Ukraine” contains offers of assistance, fundraising campaigns, petitions and appeals from the film industry. There is also an information page curated by film journalists containing sources of important documentary and feature films about Ukraine. A blog reports, for instance, on key cultural activities for helping Ukraine, and publishes urgent calls for help from people in need. Furthermore, the job and accommodation market on Crew United is to be expanded to enable jobs and housing opportunities for Ukrainian filmmakers to be advertised.

“With “Filmmakers-for-Ukraine” we are focusing on the work, the offerings and the network of initiators in our industry, because we have great contacts there,” says Oliver Zenglein. Crew United has been created in Germany more than 25 years ago. It is active in the film industries in Poland and France for a year now, and it is preparing launches in Lithuania, Romania, Greece, Italy and Spain. The platform already provides information about assistance and activities in Poland, Lithuania, Romania and other European countries, and far more information is constantly being added.

Call for help and support

“Filmmakers-for-Ukraine” has been set up in no time flat, and we are growing it every day. We are always grateful for anyone who wants to help,” comes the call from the Crew United editorial team. We are looking for partners and backers from the industry who can provide helpful information and notify about planned activities. We are in urgent need of volunteers to help us keep our information well-structured and up to date.