The short documentary film Underseen, directed by British filmmaker Rafael Cortez, recently premiered in Kyiv, exploring the realities faced by blind individuals amidst the war.

The film centers around the guides from the Lviv branch of the Museum in Darkness “03:00”, including museum director Alina Marnenko and veteran Vitaliy Veres, who lost his sight on the front lines. Through their stories, the film reveals the strength of the human spirit and the importance of social entrepreneurship in supporting vulnerable communities.

According to the director, Underseen aims to change societal perceptions of blindness and wartime trauma, giving a voice to those often overlooked. The premiere served as a platform for public discussion featuring the creators and the film's protagonists, including producer Zhanna Maksymenko-Dovhych, the founder of the “03:00” Foundation Alina Marnenko, guide Viktoriya Shevchuk, and the director himself. The event was moderated by Ksenia Shvets, a guide, comedian, and stand-up performer.

Thanks to partnerships with SILab Ukraine, USVF, the “03:00” Foundation, and support from the European Union, the film received an audio description created in collaboration with the “Accessible Cinema” initiative and the Greta application.

During the event, attendees were also shown a trailer for the upcoming feature film “Blind Arc,” which continues to explore the themes raised in Underseen.

The film tells the stories of Ukrainian veterans who lost their sight due to the war, particularly focusing on Ivan Roman, a soldier from Mykolaiv who, in 2024, lost a leg, an arm, and his sight while rescuing comrades.

“Blind Arc” immerses the viewer in a profound process of adaptation, rethinking reality, and seeking inner strength after trauma.