BEST DOCUMENTARY, RIVIERA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2026
"We chose a story that reminds us that the end of victimization begins with a personal decision. Nobody is coming to save us, and this film spoke to us deeply - especially considering the world we are living in. And this film is Second Wind.
Second Wind moved us - literally - this film shifted something in the room. It opened our eyes to the reality of young people living in the shadow of war, but Second Wind shows us a break in the storm — a breath of life, a moment of hope — while never letting us forget that the storm is ongoing, what war truly means and its consequences to young lives." -- Festival Jury
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Lord Speaker, UK Parliament (Michael Forsyth)
EU Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Pedro Serrano)
EU Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Pedro Serrano)
I recommend this film to you. I tell you, you won't get through it without bursting into tears
EU Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Pedro Serrano)
EU Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Pedro Serrano)
EU Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Pedro Serrano)
The film was moving, but you managed to maintain a clear and non-political tone. An optimistic message about the strength of life
French Ambassador to NATO (David Cvach)
EU Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Pedro Serrano)
French Ambassador to NATO (David Cvach)
This film proves once again that we have a lot to learn from Ukrainians
PHOTO GALLERY
THE HEROES
Olha "VYSOTA" Yehorova
Active-duty servicewoman. Joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the day of the full-scale invasion, rising from clerical officer to second-class sniper. Fought in multiple battles, sustaining two severe combat injuries in 2023.
Vladyslav "SHATYA" Shatilo
Active-duty serviceman, Joined volunteer battalion "Chernihiv" at 18, serving in Luhansk Oblast. Served with Azov Special Purpose Detachment (2015-2019) on the Mariupol frontline and Svitlodarsk Bulge, sustaining injuries leading to his discharge. Mobilized with Chernihiv Border Guard Unit in February 2022, participating in the defense of Chernihiv.
Mykhailo "GRIZLI" Matviyev
Active duty serviceman. Served in the OMEGA special forces unit since 2021. Lost his lower leg to an anti-personnel mine while clearing enemy positions. Now serving as a combat drone operator.
Roman "DOBRYAK" Kolesnyk
Joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the start of the full-scale invasion. Lost his lower leg to a tank shell fragment during a successful assault. Now an ambassador to the Second Wind veteran's movement and a rapper.
Oleksandr "RAGNAR" Mikhov
Graduated with a gold medal from the National Guard Academy (2015), later joining the special unit "Omega." Served from the start of the full-scale invasion. Rank- Major. Lost his leg in 2023. Became Ukrainian Para Jiu-Jitsu Champion (Oct. 2024) and World Jiu-Jitsu silver medalist (Nov. 2024).
CORE TEAM
director
principal DoP
principal DoP
Masha Kondakova is a French-Ukrainian filmmaker known for both documentary and fiction. Her short film November premiered at Locarno and won 15 international awards. She was among the first to document women at war in Inner Wars, distributed globally via ARTE, ZDF, and Canal+. A passionate advocate for Ukrainian veterans and a bridge to European audiences.
principal DoP
principal DoP
principal DoP
Serhiy Mykhalchuk is one of Ukraine’s most respected cinematographers, recipient of the Silver Bear at Berlin Film Festival) Now an active service member. Sergei was temporarily released for filming, before being redeployed. Known for “Dovbush” and “I, Nina.”
producer
principal DoP
producer
Gena Gazin – is a Ukrainian-born American executive and philanthropist. Founder of If Not Now, Then When (https://ifnotnowua.org/en), the film’s main sponsor. Former telecom and defense engineer —now dedicated to helping the people defending Ukraine. A mountaineer whose several recent near-death experiences pushed him toward a life of pur
Gena Gazin – is a Ukrainian-born American executive and philanthropist. Founder of If Not Now, Then When (https://ifnotnowua.org/en), the film’s main sponsor. Former telecom and defense engineer —now dedicated to helping the people defending Ukraine. A mountaineer whose several recent near-death experiences pushed him toward a life of purpose.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gena-gennady-gazin-50288a6/