Southeast to host movie maker

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This article was published 16/07/2024 (295 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A walk through a historic cemetery in southeast Manitoba, coupled with a desire to make a film that engages the audience in new ways, has inspired The Border at Tolstoi.

Writer and director Bob Kotyk said the short film will explore the Ukrainian history of the Tolstoi, Vita and Stuartburn region.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Kotyk has deep roots in the Stuartburn area.

He said the film’s inspiration began in 2013 when he was given a tour of the old Ukrainian block settlement and historic cemetery where his great-grandparents are buried from Violet Dawydiuk.

“We heard first-hand a lot of stories about the first wave of Ukrainian immigration,” he said, noting that they arrived in 1902 with his great-grandmother arriving in 1913. “I just thought it was inspiring and rich.”

He describes the short film as “narrative fiction” with some documentary elements.

The main character works at the border crossing, and the area is shown through her eyes.

With a small cast of actors and a technical crew of camera operators, sound technicians and lighting experts, there will only be about 20 people working on location.

Kotyk said they have a small grant from the Shevchenko Foundation and support by Manitoba Film and Music, but added they are doing this on a shoestring budget.

“It’s a real all hands-on deck approach to filmmaking,” he said.

Cast and crew will arrive in the Stuartburn area for filming on Labour Day weekend beginning on Aug. 30.

Kotyk said they’ve already had people ready to volunteer for some of the tasks needed such as preparing meals, driving cast and crew between locations, helping construct small sets and appearing as extras in the background of certain scenes.

“I think it’s achievable,” he said of the short time frame for shooting. “It’s going to be a lot.”

Kotyk added that this film would never have been written, was it not for his brief exposure to the region.

“I probably wouldn’t have made a film in Tolstoi had I not gone on the tour with Violet Dawydiuk in 2013 and discovered that my ancestors lived there,” he said. “There’s just something about that tour and introduction and going to the graveyard and seeing my last name on virtually every single grave.”

Anyone who would like to help during the production can contact Kotyk at Robert.kotyk@gmail.com.