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.