On November 20, World Children’s Day, the documentary film Ash and Crayons by Oscar-nominated director Evgeny Afineevsky will begin its theatrical run in New York. The film tells the stories of seven Ukrainian children who survived Russian shelling, severe injuries, captivity, and forced deportation to Russia. The film combines documentary footage with animation created by Ukrainian artists, conveying the children’s experiences, resilience, and hopes for the future.
This is reported on the film’s official website.
The documentary Ash and Crayons will open at New York’s Village East by Angelika theater on November 20, 2026. Screenings will continue through November 26. The film will also open in London on the same day, where it will be shown at Finsbury Park Picturehouse.
The film was directed by Evgeny Afineevsky, known for the documentary Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom, which was nominated for an Academy Award, as well as Francesco (2020) and Children in the Fire (2025).
The director’s new work focuses on the lives of Ukrainian children whose lives were fundamentally changed after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
At the center of the story are seven children who endured severe injuries, separation from their families, forced displacement, and captivity. Despite what they have gone through, they continue to study, participate in sports, develop their talents, and make plans for the future.
The film’s protagonists are Yana Stepanenko, Bohdan Yermokhin, Vladyslav Buryak, Sasha Paskal, Roman Oleksiv, Valeriia Sydorova, and Veronika Vlasova.
Each story presents a different experience of war. Among the protagonists are children who survived Russian attacks, returned from forced deportation or captivity, lost their homes, and went through a long process of physical and psychological recovery.
One of the film’s distinctive features is its combination of real documentary footage with animated sequences created by Ukrainian artists. This allows the filmmakers to convey not only the events the children witnessed, but also their emotions, memories, and dreams.
On the official website, the creators describe the film as a collective wartime diary of Ukrainian children. Through their testimonies, the director raises questions about the consequences of Russian aggression, including the forced deportation of minors to Russia and attempts to assimilate them. At the same time, the film seeks to portray the children not only as victims of war, but also as individuals who retain their aspirations and find the strength to move forward.
The film has already received a number of international awards. According to the official website, these include Cinema for Peace 2026, a Golden Nymph Award at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, and a special AMADE award. The film also received a Jury Honorable Mention in the documentary feature category at the Raindance Film Festival 2025.
In addition to theatrical screenings, the project team is conducting an international awareness campaign aimed at drawing attention to the situation of Ukrainian children, supporting educational initiatives, and developing partnerships to assist Ukraine.
In New York, the film will be screened from November 20 through November 26 at Village East by Angelika, located at 181–189 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003. On the opening day, November 20, screenings are scheduled for 12:00 p.m., 4:25 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. local time. Detailed information about the film, the official trailer, and the screening schedule are available on the Ash and Crayons website..
Photo: ashandcrayons.com
Author: Inna Mikhno