Unknown Horizons: Slava Ukraini (2024)
UNKNOWN HORIZONS: SLAVA UKRAI (2024)
Starring:
Aubrey Mathis & Spyke O'Hanlin.
Follow the eye opening and world changing journey of Spyke O'Hanlin, a first time, extra-(dis)abled traveler from the UK who ultimately finds himself on a humanitarian mission delivering aid to the war-torn country of Ukraine in April, 2022.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
Director's Statement
Originally, the concept for this film began as a travel documentary about a first time disabled traveler leaving his home city in the UK and travelling to Slovakia to visit an old friend. However, during my first week away, Russia invaded Ukraine and within the next couple of months, I found myself in a grassroots relief effort into Ukraine, filming a grassroots documentary with a guy I met in the pub.
Exploring Eastern Europe and discovering cultures vastly different to my own, I saw with my own eyes the safety and privilege we have back in the UK, so I felt a sense of duty to help the Ukrainians however I could. I first wanted to meet refugees and record their stories while I volunteered at The Wild Elephants Hostel, Bratislava, but once I met Aubrey, that changed into the feature you see before you.
The film's premise is by default, a dark and negative subject, which is why I made an effort to keep the main focus on the good that's being done by simple, every day people. There are governments around the world doing nothing and an English teacher from Bratislava is showing the world what humanity really means.
This documentary is about Aubrey Mathis, first and foremost. It is a Call To Action.
The experience, as you have seen, or about to see, was eye opening and world changing, and a different person came back to the UK than when I originally left, but I feel honoured to have had the experience and met the real, everyday heroes that exist in this world.
