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.».