The completion of the shooting for the art-documentary film about the history of Ukrainian IT, "The First Code," has marked the journey that showcases the strength, development, and level of Ukrainian IT.

"The First Code" is a time-traveling story that begins in the 1950s with the creation of the first computer by Ukrainian engineers and continues until the present day when the IT sector has become not only a powerful industry but also an important front in the war against Russia.

According to the film's director, Artur Lerman, the team behind "The First Code" is one of the best clients: bold, adventurous, creative, and pragmatic enough to take risks and create artistic works.

«"Yesterday was the last day of shooting. On one hand, you feel tired, but on the other hand, 'The First Code' has become so dear to us, the people involved have become like family. Today we bid farewell to the actors we spent a lot of time with. We hugged and said our goodbyes sentimentally, but that's the nature of this profession. It's a normal process in our industry. So, in principle, I will live with this project for a long time. Now we need to immerse ourselves in the editing process."».

Regarding the challenges of filming the movie, which started at the end of 2021 and continued during wartime, the team faced many difficulties, including blackouts, network issues, alarms, and more. 

The creative producer of the film, Lyubov Mochalova, revealed that it was organizationally challenging but worth it: ""In life, there are no retakes, and nothing can be repeated. I often thank the universe that this professional team brings the project to life, overcoming all difficulties, and everything works like a well-oiled machine. I'm thrilled with the final scene: the battle between white and black hackers—it has a Hollywood-level concept when the real and virtual plotlines intersect in the frame, but I won't reveal more for now. For this scene, we hired stunt performers, and the actors learned martial arts. As a result, it looks spectacular on screen."».

Today, the "First Code" team also presented an English-language teaser to expand the film's distribution horizons. Producer Vladyslav Savchenko promises that the film about the strength and power of the Ukrainian IT industry will be seen worldwide.

"The First Code" will be translated into multiple languages. Currently, negotiations are underway with representatives from streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple TV.

The film is set to premiere in spring 2023, with a budget of approximately eight million hryvnias.

Mikhailo Fedorov, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, has become a new hero in the documentary film "The First Code" 

"The First Code" is a research film that takes a journey through time, featuring interviews with leaders of the most prominent IT companies founded in Ukraine. It covers the period from the creation of the first computer by Ukrainian engineers to the present day, where the IT sector has become not only a powerful industry but also an important front in the war against Russia.

Mikhailo Fedorov gave a significant interview to the author of the research, Vladyslav Savchenko, in which he talked about the cyber war with Russia. He discussed the attacks on Ukrainian digital infrastructure, the role of the volunteer movement and the IT army in defending the cyber front, and how technology helps in identifying military criminals from Bucha and other places. 

On his social media pages, the interviewer of the film, Vladyslav Savchenko, shared a story where Mikhailo Fedorov explains how their own "Red Team" began "attacking" the Ukrainian energy infrastructure a few months before the start of the full-scale war to test vulnerabilities and fix them. 

"In December, when the information wave about a possible full-scale invasion started, the world media was reporting on potential hacker attacks on the energy infrastructure. A few days before the New Year, we held meetings with all the people responsible for the IT sector in the energy direction. We engaged our 'Red Team,' which, throughout January, 'attacked' our own energy infrastructure to find vulnerable points. We were preparing and understanding the challenges of the next day."

Fedorov also commented on Ukraine's cybersecurity and the defense against attacks from Russia.

"The war with Russia has been ongoing since 2014. Therefore, when we created the Ministry of Digital Transformation and set the goal of digitizing all services in the country, we understood that cyber warfare is an integral part of any war, including physical warfare. So, we did everything in a way that would allow us to withstand attacks in the cyberspace. We now understand the challenges of the future and what needs to be done. We have already achieved many fundamental things for the cyber resilience of the state." 

The filming of "First Code" took place in Kiev and Hostomel, showcasing various iconic locations such as the crematorium, Ukrainian House, Institute of Cybernetics, and Vernadsky Library. The film delves into the history and development of IT in Ukraine, as well as the cyberwar with Russia. These elements, along with the presence of prominent figures, a Hollywood-like presentation, and unconventional locations, make the film highly appealing to audiences worldwide. The production team had the opportunity to interact with the founders of renowned companies such as EPAM Ukraine, 3DLOOK, ELEKS, Looksery, Techiia Holding, Sigma Software Group, SoftServe, NIX, Uklon, Infopulse Ukraine, as well as representatives from the Glushkov Institute of Cybernetics and the Ministry of Digital Transformation. 

The film production team conducted another shoot to recreate the present-day setting for an upcoming episode in Hostomel. According to the producer of "First Code," Vladyslav Savchenko, this particular episode was the most challenging because the actors and the entire filming crew were not merely acting but experiencing the present moment together: 

«We filmed the entire day on the street, enduring twelve hours in the cold. But thanks to this winter, December wasn't as cold as usual. The emotions were real. It felt just like February 2022, a day of intense emotional experiences. Everything we filmed resonated with every member of the crew. In one of the scenes, we reconstructed a missile strike, and reliving that was incredibly challenging.». 

Regarding the organization of the filming process in Kyiv and Hostomel, the producer explained that according to the rules of martial law, besides obtaining written permission from the military administration, it was mandatory to have a patrol car present on the set.

«During the state of martial law, all outdoor scenes must be coordinated with the Kyiv military administration. Therefore, before the shoot, we sent them a written request, along with a request for the mandatory presence of a patrol car. We had large-scale scenes involving a significant number of actors, including mass scenes. As for the filming in Hostomel, where we captured the evacuation of people and the destruction caused by the invaders, we coordinated the entire event with the regional military administration. This was because a professional pyrotechnic team was present on the set, using fire and smoke effects.».

The filming of the movie "First Code" took place in the capital's crematorium. According to the film's director, Arthur Lerman, this location was chosen for a specific reason. 

«The movie "First Code" primarily revolves around a journey through time, starting from the present, waar and delving into the 1980s to understand why we have become who we are in the IT industry. Therefore, the choice of the crematorium as a filming location was made to find a space that would serve as a conduit through time, analogous to a neural network in the language of the IT industry. It represents a space that transcends time and physical forms, allowing the characters to navigate through different eras.», – explains the director.

The producer of the film and the author of the research, Vladyslav Savchenko, explains that the team paid attention to Soviet modernism, which was created by a group of architects who worked in the 1970s and 1980s. These architects left behind truly unique buildings that captivate the viewers.

The film set was arranged directly above the crematorium ovens, where there was a large cavity in the middle. It was covered with a special construction, so during the filming, Vladyslav Savchenko had to move within the frame with extreme caution, literally avoiding falling through.