Filming Your Own War: Alisa Kovalenko, dir. of TRACES (2026), Ukraine's Oscar Nominee

Watch This Episode On YouTube There was intense fighting during America's Global War on Terror era in Iraq and Afghanistan, no question. But it's nothing compared to the sheer horror of what's been going on in Ukraine for years now. Especially with drones playing a ubiquitous role, a better way to think about that particular conflict is modern day World War I. At great personal risk, director Alisa Kovalenko set out to document the war in her films, most recently MY DEAR THEO (2025) and TRACES (2026), the latter of which is Ukraine's Oscar nominee. Along with her co-director Marysia Nikitiuk, the film follows six Ukrainian women survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, torture, and war crimes committed by Russian forces during the full-scale invasion. Besides documenting the war on film, she also served as a soldier defending her country on the frontlines. This is personal, deeply moving filmmaking by an extraordinarily talented director, and by the end, she talks about going back! It is truly incredible how she honors her country. In this episode, Alisa and I talk about: advice for filmmakers on premieres and traveling; earning Ukraine's Oscar nominee for her film TRACES and what people should expect when they watch the film; why documentary filmmaking?; does she feel like a soldier or a filmmaker -- both? what it's like making a documentary in the trenches; how she ensured she got things right the first time in a war documentary; advice for co-directing; how to follow her career and when to see TRACES; what's next for her. Alisa's Indie Film Highlight: I'M NOT EVERYTHING I WANT TO BE (2024) dir. by Klára Tasovská Memorable Quotes: "It's not my first marathon, but it is my craziest marathon." " I was very excited when I knew about that Ukrainian Oscar committee selected "Traces" for Ukrainian entry. But at the same time I felt that, oh, wow, it's even more responsibility." " With all wounds, I learn a lot of things also. And so all wounds actually very valuable for me. They're not only painful." Links: Follow Alisa On Instagram Follow TRACES On Instagram