The exclusive event featured appearances by US Congressman Jim Costa, the film’s real‑life heroines Mother Maria Cristiana Demianczuk, Sister Maria Provydinnia and Eduardo Llop, a live musical performance by Marina V, and a Q&A moderated by Golden Globe member Lena Basse
Director Mike Dorsey and Executive Producer Steven Campos held an exclusive screening of the documentary Sisters of Ukraine at the Pacific Design Center’s Silver Screen Theater in West Hollywood on the evening of December 12, 2025.
Joining Dorsey and Campos were the film’s “stars” at the special event were Mother Maria Cristiana Demianczuk and Sister Maria Provydinnia, who traveled from Ukraine, and Eduardo Llop, who traveled from Barcelona, as well as cinematographers Terence Pratt and Jacopo Campaiola.
Prior to the screening was a special performance of the Ukrainian Russian song Bird of Happiness by music artist Marina V.
A special Q&A session moderated by Golden Globes member Lena Basse was held after the screening, followed by a cocktail reception.
In the film, volunteers from Barcelona travel to Ukraine to work with nuns aiding refugees following the Russian invasion. As missile attacks surge, they take a group of three-dozen Ukrainians on a three-day journey across Europe to housing in Spain.
Guests in attendance included United States Congressman Jim Costa, E! founder Larry Namer, actress Irina Dubova (The Perfect Couple), actress Eve Richards, actress Callie Rose Deets, Olga Popel of the Ukrainian Cultural Center, Nicole Goesseringer Muj, the Honorary Consul General of Sweden in Los Angeles Gudrun Giddings, as well as many dignitaries, and representatives from the media and entertainment industry. Catering was provided by Amroth.
“Every day and every night, the people of Ukraine, its children, are subject to unconditional bombing taking place by Russia. When February 24th, 2022 began the invasion, it was very clear for people here in this country and around the world, [that]it was about good versus evil. And today it is still about good versus evil. And therefore, it’s incumbent upon all of us to be together on behalf and support the people of Ukraine,” comments Congressman Costa.
He adds, “I’m honored to be a part of this evening and the documentary and for those of you who’ve not seen it, I’ve seen it twice, it is moving and it brings it all home. These Ukrainian children that the sisters have done so much for and still have such plans for when this war is over. It must end sooner than later, so that we can begin to rebuild for a new Ukraine and for a world that is peaceful and that stands for its children and for the future.”
The film is distributed by Freestyle Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, and is available now to rent/own on North American digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms, as well as on DVD.
Directed by acclaimed documentarian Mike Dorsey, Sisters of Ukraine traces the journey of volunteers and nuns who bring a group of Ukrainian refugees on a three-day journey across Europe to housing in Spain. Two volunteers from an aid organization in Barcelona travel to a convent in western Ukraine where nuns are helping refugees following the Russian invasion. They spend three days living in the convent and helping the nuns care for local refugees who have fled eastern Ukraine, including a mother with eight children and an elderly woman who survived a missile attack on the train station in Kramatorsk that killed 60 civilians. But following the bombing of the Kerch Bridge in Crimea, the mission to bring Ukrainians to refugee housing in Spain is thrown into doubt as all of Ukraine is put under lockdown while Russia fires over 80 missiles at the country in retaliation. After a delay, the volunteers take a group of three-dozen refugees and families of soldiers fighting in the war on a three-day journey by land across Europe to housing near Barcelona.
Directed by Mike Dorsey (Lost Airmen of Buchenwald, Murder Rap: Inside the Biggie and Tupac Murders) Sisters of Ukraine is a war documentary about the lives behind the front lines; the lives Ukraine’s soldiers are fighting to protect,” said filmmaker Mike Dorsey. “The 2,500-mile, three-day journey by land out of Ukraine and across Europe with a group of three-dozen refugees and families of soldiers fighting in the war, into the welcoming arms of an aid organization in Spain, is the film’s emotional payoff. But what my crew and I will never forget is witnessing these incredibly brave young nuns, led by Mother Cristiana, who have already dedicated their lives to the service of others, face the greatest challenge of their lives. Sisters of Ukraine captures their courageous spirit.”
Sisters of Ukraine Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VELaSo_jhs8
Photos by Tshombe Sampson
Following are IEM‘s Tanasha Allwood personal reflections on this very special event.
Sisters of Ukraine: A Testament to Compassion, Courage, and Collective Humanity
I was honored to attend the film premiere of Sisters of Ukraine as part of the media and PR team, where I also had the privilege of welcoming guests for an evening rooted in purpose, reflection, and global solidarity. The screening took place at the Pacific Design Center’s Silver Screen Theater in West Hollywood, an intimate setting befitting a documentary that asks its audience not just to watch—but to feel.
Following the screening, a moving Q&A brought the film’s heart even closer to the audience. Panelists included Mother Cristiana Demianczuk, who traveled from Ukraine; Eduardo Llop, who journeyed from Barcelona; director Mike Dorsey; and executive producer Steven Campos. Their presence underscored the global collaboration behind this project and the urgency of its message.
Sisters of Ukraine chronicles the extraordinary efforts of volunteers from Barcelona who travel to Ukraine to work alongside nuns aiding refugees in the wake of the Russian invasion. As missile attacks intensify, the film follows their courageous decision to escort three dozen Ukrainians on a three-day journey across Europe to safety and housing in Spain. The documentary does not sensationalize war—it humanizes it, centering on faith, service, and the quiet heroism found in choosing compassion amid chaos.
As I sat in the theater, I was struck by the emotional response from the audience. I’ll be honest—I didn’t walk into this screening with deep prior knowledge of this documentary or the full scope of the work being done on the ground. But part of the responsibility of media is to listen, to learn, and to amplify stories that demand our attention once we encounter them. Tears were visible, not as a reaction to shock, but as an expression of recognition. This film hit home for many, reminding us that behind every headline are real lives, families, and communities forever changed. The collective stillness in the room spoke volumes.
After the screening, I had the opportunity to meet the Sisters, who were as warm and kindhearted as the film portrayed. They graciously allowed me to take a photo with them—an interaction that felt less like a celebrity moment and more like a shared human exchange. What surprised me most was learning that the nuns would be traveling back to Ukraine the very next day. Their explanation was simple and profound: their dedication to their school and their service to others called them home. There was no hesitation—only commitment.
Even as a media professional accustomed to red carpets and premieres, this experience stood apart. It reaffirmed why showing depth and range in media assignments matters to me. Stories like Sisters of Ukraine remind us how this war began, why it must not be forgotten, and how compassion and solidarity are not abstract ideals—they are life-saving actions.
At the end of the evening, during the reception that followed, there was a palpable sense of connection among guests. Conversations felt more intentional, quieter, and more meaningful. Sisters of Ukraine is not just a documentary; it is a call to remember our shared humanity. In a world often divided by borders and beliefs, it reminds us that at the end of the day, compassion is what saves lives.
