EXCLUSIVE: Trying to build an original list of content is already difficult for anyone working in the industry, but try to do it under the constant threat of attacks in a neighboring country.
This is exactly what Anna Gonchar, head of investment and partnership projects in the television activity of the 1 + 1 media in Ukraine, from Russia, began its large -scale invasion of the European country in 2022.
“We are always standing and always do our best to continue,” she told Deadline in an exclusive interview. “It does not become easier and sometimes even becoming more difficult. You cannot live under this stress all this time, but we are really motivated – we know the truth that we defend ourselves. It pushes us to be more inventive and creative. ”
Anna Gonchache
The Ukrainian broadcasters, which include 1 + 1, STB and Inter, were late in the original Streaming game, most of the productions taking place only in the last two years. Given the devastation of the current assault on Russia, it is hardly surprising.
The fact that they actively develop original streaming is more revealing development. Gonchar said that market development increases standards and that industry “does not call it competition, but a chance for the Ukrainian market to grow”.
“When competitors grow up, everyone is growing up,” she added. “Everyone is developing new skills.”
In this spirit, Gonchar reveals the details of three original projects which are ready for the launch: a gravelly criminal drama EnriqueFestival of the holiday season Christmas guards and rom-com Probation period. Not only that, but 1 + 1, which operates several television channels and a large production company, is looking for international partners and is more – not something that you may initially assume given the war in progress and the constant threat of new attacks.
“Since the start of the invasion war, as a group, we have focused on television content,” she said. “We had a powerful and impressive news operation, but people in Ukraine need Ukrainian content that will help them go out, because your body must rest. We have decided to work on the production of features and series for OTT only, which we have not done before. It is the positive result of war, I’m afraid.”
Here is the drop in the slate. Tykha Nava (known internationally under Enrique), with Oleksandr Rudynskyi and Anastasia Pustovit, is a real drama of crime based on events in a small town of the same name on a young lawyer who finds himself at the center of an investigation into a series of brutal crimes committed by a man named Elvis (renowned “Enrique” in the series). While the lawyer seeks the truth, he meets the indifference of the inhabitants and a system anchored of inertia. The themes extend to the way in which inaction and silence can lead to a bond and how the system turns against those who try to change it from the inside.
Launched the Pitch Copro Content Warsow event in the summer in Poland, Enrique won the first prize in the scripted series category, which gives him an important moment when he was heading towards filming before an outing at the beginning of 2026. “The land in Warsaw proved to us that we are doing well,” said Gonchar. “We are a European country with great people who produce major projects that can perform well and be competitive.”
Sfera Product Film Enrique In partnership with the jointreprise streaming service of 1 + 1 Kyivstartv. Rudynskyi’s star power, known for his roles in Netflix The decameronParamount + The agency and BAFTA winning short film Rock, paper, scissorsAdd an additional weight to the series, which 1 + 1 considers a key to the sight of Ukrainian production from the outside.
“Each actor and member of the crew understands that it is something that never produced before in Ukraine,” said Gonchar. “We tried to produce it at the quality of the film, so that we could prove that victory was not an accident and was well deserved. I cannot stop looking at the daily life.”
Oleksandr Rudynskyi in “Enrique”
1 + 1 support
Christmas guards Is post-production before a cinema release on November 13 in Ukraine, marking the first complete production of 1 + 1 features.
Directed by Oleksandr Kirienko, the intrigue focuses on Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus and the old winter spirit, which competes for the title of Christmas magician. Located in 2023, when the Ukrainians celebrated Christmas Day on December 25 for the first time in many years, they have debated who should supervise Christmas and to whom children should write letters with their wishes. After having achieved the accidental lack of a girl named Vira, Christmas, the winter symbols and the magical powers of the wizards, disappear from the memories of people. While people lose confidence in the holiday season, the three “guards” are forced to prove that people themselves can create miracles without needing magic. The cast includes Ivan Blindar, Mykhailo Kukuyuk, Stanislav Boklan, Arina Tregub, Kateryna Kuznetsova and Roman Lutskyi.
“It is not only a question of sadness and murders,” quips Gonchar, who underlines the cultural meaning of the photo. “Since 2023, we have started to celebrate Christmas the same day as Europe,” she says. “With the film, there will be no doubts. The children will know when to write their letters.”
Further, 1 + 1 will launch Probation periodA romantic comedy film on an incompatible man and woman who meet when both in three months of probation are fighting for the same role. He sees her a rich frivolous child and she sees him as a bore in principle with a Messiah complex. Gonchar said that filming should start in September before a movie release scheduled for early 2026.
Air raid sirens
However, production in Ukraine remains a dangerous game. The night before the very little publicized peace discussions that President Donald Trump anchored, the production of Enrique was retained three times due to air raid sirens. Yesterday, 17 people were killed while the Russian strikes hit the capital kyiv and the British council building damaged, while European leaders urged President Vladimir Putin to come to the negotiation table.
The attacks have made Ukraine an almost impossible shooting location for international projects, which hinder the desire of 1 + 1 to make co -productions with neighbors in the West. “European countries are a little afraid of working here, which is 100%understandable, but we work and live here, so it is possible with the precautions of security in place,” said Gonchar.
Some of the souls brave in Europe explore his thesis, because 1 + 1 is in development on two series and a co -production of feature films. A series was submitted for the initiative of the Mania Co-Pro Pitching Sessions series during the Lille event, in France next year. “Co -production is now the main target and objective,” said Gonchar.
“To summarize, our strategy is now to develop projects that have good co-production potential,” she added. “We understand that we have shiny ideas, but we are limited in what we can do. We have to continue to develop our system, but we did not go on money – we work for this. We want to show that we are a reliable service at a moderate price.
