The Polish filmmaker/producer team of Elwira Niewiera and Maciej Kubicki made a powerful impact pitch March 10 for their feature doc project Women and War, which explores the psychological toll of war through the personal journeys of four women – Julia, Lena, Iryna, and Olena – who have survived the horrors of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Over the course of two years, the film follows the women as they participate in therapy sessions in the remote Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains. Guided by therapists and psychologists, they gradually begin the process of healing. These sessions form the emotional heart of the film, capturing intimate moments as the women face their traumas and take steps toward recovery. Women and War tells a universal story of resilience and courage in the face of war’s devastation, presented entirely from a female perspective.
The 90-minute film will be ready for delivery in January 2027.
“For many years I have worked closely with Ukrainian women who survived war crimes, and what I have learned from them is that the war doesn’t end when the war is over. It stays in their minds, in their bodies, and in their everyday lives,” director Niewiera told the professional audience in Geneva.
“Our film follows a group of Ukrainian women, survivors of Russian captivity, torture and sexual violence, through two years of therapy in the remote Ukrainian mountains,” she added. “The therapy offers them a safe space where they can acknowledge and name the injustices and valuations they suffered during the war. And it’s a deeply emotional process. You will see moments of anger, grief, but also resilience, relief, and moments of acceptance. And each story reflects a different path to recovery.”
“For me, it’s not a film about suffering. It’s a film about survival, transformation and courage, because each step the women take toward healing highlights the strength and brings hope.”
The impact goal is to use the film as a tool to build the first long-term trauma therapy centre in Ukraine. To achieve this, Niewiera will partner with women’s rights networks across Europe to host impact screenings that raise both awareness and funds. In the past two months, she has presented the project to major institutions in Germany, such as the International Women’s Club in Frankfurt and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. “I’m glad to say that through these efforts, we have already secured part of the funds to buy the land for the centre,” she confirmed.
Producer Maciej Kubicki outlined the second objective, “to develop a program to contribute to a more responsible ethical and survival-focused use of women’s war stories,” he said. In total, the team is looking to raise 600,000 euros in cash financing, as well in 20K in-kind support for venues, communications and outreach. They are also looking for an experienced impact producer to help expand and implement the campaign internationally.
“The war in Ukraine is still ongoing after four years. Its emotional consequences are immense and what’s important for us, and what we all need to understand, is that long-term healing is an urgent and often overlooked need,” Kubicki said.
Niewiera summed up: “It takes generations to heal from war trauma, and women’s recovery is essential for their future and for the future of Ukraine. So we invite you to join us in making this possible.”
Impact lab mentor Khadidja Benouataf, President of the Impact Social Club (France) commented from the floor: “For her previous film called The Hamlet Syndrome, Elwira managed to raise one million euros, and she sent material to the paramedics on the front lines. So she has been changing many lives, and especially lives of the wounded on the war.”
“So you see her all delicate and soft, but she’s a powerhouse,” Benouataf continued. “She’s very determined and very brave and courageous, because not only does she send the material, but she goes also with the material onto the front lines. So I’m sure that if she wants to make this happen, it will happen. But of course, she needs help for that.”
