Team: A Film About the Resistance of Young Football Players in Kherson

The TV channel "2+2" has transformed its four-part miniseries "Team" into a full-length feature film. The exclusive online premiere of the film took place on June 4 on the official website of the "2+2" channel. Symbolically, the screening was timed to coincide with the International Day of Innocent Children – Victims of Aggression.

The plot centers around a touching and dramatic story of young football players from Kherson, who find themselves at the epicenter of events in the early days of Russia's full-scale invasion and begin to resist the enemy. The film demonstrates how ordinary Ukrainians can unite in the face of deadly danger to fight, support each other, and maintain faith in victory despite everything.

The full-length version of "Team" was created with the support of the international platform Netflix and the Ukrainian Film Academy.

Real Stories Behind the Plot

The film's script is based on real testimonies from people who experienced the horrors of the occupation of Kherson, went through enemy captivity, but managed to escape to territory controlled by Ukraine. For greater realism, documentary footage secretly filmed by witnesses of those events was integrated into the narrative of the film. Additionally, the film features unique footage of the liberation of Kherson, captured by TV presenter Dmytro Komarov for his authorial documentary projects.

"Our main goal was to showcase the story of Ukrainian resistance, the heroism of the people of Kherson in various corners of the world, so that festival guests could learn the truth about the war and Russia's crimes through a feature film based on real stories," shared one of the film's producers, Volodymyr Moskaleць.

Cast and Creative Team

The main role of the children's football team coach Vitaliy is played by renowned Ukrainian actor Serhiy Zhuravlyov. Alongside him on screen are: Mykhailo Hanev, Artem Ihnatov, Yan Kornev, Hryhoriy Nikiforov, Zakhar Kermoshchuk, Mykhailo Hnativ, Serhiy Smiyan, Olena Larina, Kateryna Belinska, Volodymyr Abazopulo, Tamara Antropova, Timur Aslanov, Iryna Tamim, Anastasia Renard, and others.

• Director: Oleksandr Salnykov.
• Cinematographer: Andriy Polyvanyy-Bukhtiyarov.
• Screenwriters: Serhiy Karpenko, Volodymyr Moskaleць, Natalka Volynska.
• Project Editor: Olena Partika.
• Producers: Serhiy Kizyma, Serhiy Karpenko, Volodymyr Moskaleць, Akim Halimov.

International Release and TV Premiere

The feature film "Team" is preparing for a wide international festival circuit. The first audiences to see the film on the big screen will be European viewers and film critics at festivals in Sweden, Italy, France, Poland, Serbia, North Macedonia, and the United Kingdom.

After the completion of festival screenings abroad, a major television premiere of the feature film will take place on the air of the "2+2" channel.