Sibs Film

A coffee business turned into a humanitarian mission.

"And now we have war," she said,

…and shortly after, she broke down. I decided to stop filming and take a break. Typically I would request that she and I work alone during the filming, but I was so glad her husband was there to comfort her. I could relate to her pain; it was similar to how I felt during 9/11 in NYC. Unbearable, lost, angry, tears flowing, hopeless, and anxiety-filled. I also had tears in my eyes. We both know this war was senseless.

I've never been to Ukraine, I'd love to go someday, but in the meantime, I will capture whatever culture Ukrainians have brought with them here in America.

I recently read about methods another documentary filmmaker used during interviews, and they ended with, "Consider it a gift when someone opens their heart to you." In Sibs Film, I felt this heart energy and openness immensely. Editing this piece was a real challenge because there was so much good content. Now I want to offer this experience to the world because knowing Yulia's experience is also about knowing peace.

This is an exert from my personal blog. This film is a perfect example of how I tell stories. I really like to use my company for philanthropic purposes when there is time to do it. Working on projects like this gives me an opportunity to practice my craft. As an interviewing producer and cinematographer, this was a great experience for me.

Yulia and her Brother Andrey opened Sibs, a coffee roasting business in Ukraine. Shortly after establishing the company, they grew their business, opening two coffee shops and empathically touching their community. Now that war has found their country; Sibs takes on a different purpose.

You can watch the film here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/sibsfilm

Trailer