ANIMALS OF WAR
Unlike us, animals don't have to take a test of humanity and they don't have political preferences, but they can clearly distinguish between good and evil.
SYNOPSIS
ANIMALS OF WAR is a unique Ukrainian anthology film based on true stories of animals affected by the war in Ukraine. The main characters of its seven novellas are animals that found themselves in the midst of war—among them a white rabbit, a wolf, and a cow.
This project sheds light on the humanitarian and ecological catastrophe caused by war, portraying it through the perspective of animals who are powerless against its consequences. The film was created in collaboration with both Ukrainian and international artists, including Hollywood actor, director, and producer Sean Penn, who, for the first time in the history of Ukrainian cinema, became part of a domestic film.
PRODUCER’S NOTE
“It is crucial for us that not only Ukrainian but also international artists have joined the creative team of this anthology. Our film is not just about rescuing animals—it’s about war as a humanitarian catastrophe that destroys everything around us and within us. The fact that our foreign colleagues have shared this grim reality with us proves that the issue of ecological disaster transcends borders and is relevant to the entire world.”
– Oleg Kohan
WRITERS & DIRECTORS: Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi, Yuliia Shashkova, Maksym Tuzov, Oleksii Mamedov, Sviatoslav Kostiuk, Ivan Sautkin, Andrii Lidahovskyi
CAST
“EAGLE”: Sean Penn, Denys Kapustin
“THE COW IN THE FROG”: Artem Chernii, Anastasiia Sych, Igor Drapikovskyi, Olga Turanska, Makar Kosianchuk, Vira Basiuk, Iryna Lepina, Olga Sydorenko, Krystyna Ignat, Yuris Tete, Ilias Ismaylov, Mykola Kyi, Anton Gorobtsov
“THE RABBIT OR THERE AND BACK AGAIN”: Mykhailo Matiukhin, Oleksandr Pecherytsia, Daria Derzhun
“SONNY”: Maryna Koshkina, Andrei Isayenko, Oleksii Zubkov, Dmytro Kravchuk, Oleksandr Biletskyi
“THE UNDERWATER ADVENTURE”: Olga Korotyaeva, Mykhailo Pulianskiy, Polina Gaiova, Halyna Gerasymova
“TORPEDO”: Olga Martynyshyn, Nazariy Gladiuk, Oksana Gladiuk, Bohdan Melnychuk
“WE`RE ALL RIGHT”: Andrii Lidahovskyi
Original Title Animals of War
Genre Feature Anthology Film
Length 100 min
Format
Languages Ukrainian, English
Locations Ukraine, USA
Production Country Ukraine
Release 2025
Producers SOTA Cinema Group, Kleos Art
Co-Producers Essence Film
Funding USAID, European Solidarity Fund For Ukrainian Films (ESFUF), Save Pets of Ukraine
Distributor
World Sales
Writers & Directors Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi, Yuliia Shashkova, Maksym Tuzov, Oleksii Mamedov, Sviatoslav Kostiuk, Ivan Sautkin, Andrii Lidahovskyi
Producer Oleg Kohan, Oleksii Makukhin
Co-Producer Igor Dovgal
Creative Producer Svitlana Mashovets Line Producer Roman Klympush
Directors of Photography Byron Werner, Yurii Gruzinov, Lev Kostenko, Oleksandr Roshchyn, Volodymyr “Vova” Ivanov, Yuriy Basrsuk
Film Editor Oliver Neumann, Oleksiy Shamin
Film Music Yevhen Ivanchenko, Dmytro Gordon, Roman Vyshnevskiy, Oleksandr Kohanivskiy, thekomakoma Soundtrack Imagine Dragon / “Burn Out”
Production Design Dustin Grabiner, Ivan Levchenko, Maksym Kochev, Valeriia Sukhariova,
Costume Design Alyona Gres, Iryna Tyulkina, Kostyantyn Kravets, Asya Sutiagina Makeup Design Jenny Osborn, Mariia Plunk, Oleksandra, Biesiedkina, Nazar Nevskyi, Olga Bukhanska, Asya Sutiagina
Sound Recording Vitalii Baidin, Denys Ryskal, Mykhailo Zakutskiy, Olesii Diachenko,
Sound Mixing Mykhailo Zakutskiy, Artem, Volodymyr Tretyakov,
FILM STILLS GALLERY
MAKING OF GALLERY
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