Ukrainian Women in Film
What does it mean to take up space as a woman in the film industry? As a Ukrainian creative in Canada?
To honour International Women's Month in March and in anticipation of the Toronto Ukrainian Film Festival this April, we brought together five Ukrainian creatives working in the Canadian film industry for a candid, honest, and powerful conversation on identity, representation, creativity, and navigating the evolving landscape of film.
This filmed roundtable, moderated by filmmaker Natalka Semotiuk, brought together voices from directing, cinematography, acting, production, and film marketing to reflect on what it means to build a creative life in the diaspora amidst global shifts.
Check out the full conversation on our Youtube:
Women in Film is supported in part by The Shevchenko Foundation, SUS Foundation and the Toronto Ukrainian Film Festival.
🎬 Meet the Host & Panelists
Natalka Semotiuk
Filmmaker, Activist & Moderator
Natalka Semotiuk is a Ukrainian-Canadian filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist whose work explores identity, displacement, and cultural memory. As moderator of the Women in Film Roundtable, she guided the conversation with clarity, warmth, and a deep understanding of the complexities diasporic creatives face.
Olya Glotka
Cinematographer
Originally from Nova Kakhovka, Ukraine, Olya works across independent film, music video, and documentary. Her recent work includes a feature project with National Geographic, and she is currently developing a documentary about the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam and the environmental trauma left in its wake.
🔗 olyaglotka.com
Anna Lee
Assistant Director
Based in Toronto, Anna has worked in union TV and feature productions including Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent. Originally from Kyiv, she brings a sharp perspective on gender, power, and visibility on professional sets.
🔗 IMDB Profile
Liliya Syvytska
Director & Actress
Trained in both acting and filmmaking, Liliya splits her work between Canada and Ukraine. Her recent short film, Teaches How to Fly, was completed as part of a Ukrainian-Canadian co-production and is currently screening at European festivals.
🔗 Instagram
Tetiana Mala
Film Marketer & Festival Organizer
Tetiana is a communications strategist, festival producer, and founder of the Ukrainian Film Festival in Amsterdam. She currently works at Hot Docs in Toronto, curating narratives that elevate Ukrainian voices for international audiences.
🔗 LinkedIn
The panellists spoke candidly about their struggles and breakthroughs, often reflecting on the tension between surviving in the system and reimagining what that system could be. The roundtable was a reminder that change doesn’t come from one loud voice—it comes from many voices, sharing space together.
This is more than a discussion — it's a call to action.
Watch, share, and join the conversation.
Get Your Tickets – TUFF is Just Two Weeks Away!
Wondering what you can do to support Ukrainian films? Bring a non-Ukrainian friend to Toronto Ukrainian Film screenings at The Royal Theatre this April.
