To mark the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has released a film featuring Ukrainians still living in their country reciting the lyrics to the song of hope “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

The DEC brings together 15 aid charities from the U.K. to raise funds in times of crisis. Since Feb. 24, 2022, its Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been one of the biggest in its 60-year history, raising $496.75 million (414 million pounds) from the British public.

Following Russia’s invasion, thousands of civilians have been killed, 8 million have fled the country, and a further 6.5 million have been internally displaced. Neighboring countries such as Poland have also been affected while providing shelter, medicine and food as well as financial support to those seeking safety, having left everything behind in their homeland.

Titled “Never Alone,” the 1-minute film from creative agency Don’t Panic and production firm Stink Films was shot over three days in February working with production company Radioaktive to source real-life locations. It features a cast and crew of Ukrainians who have chosen to remain in the country, showing their strength and determination amid the devastation of war.

Co-directed by Rick Dodds and Leo Maguire, the words spoken from the song by Rodgers and Hammerstein for their musical Carousel are recited by each of the cast with the aim of capturing Ukrainians’ resilience.

In a statement, Saleh Saeed, chief executive of DEC, explained that the organization wanted those who had donated to feel the difference their gifts had made.

“But this crisis is far from over, and whatever comes next, donations to our appeal will continue to support people whose lives have been shattered. ‘Never Alone’ is a campaign that isn’t about a ‘job done.’ … It’s a message of resilience from Ukraine to the U.K., so that the British public can feel the difference their donations have made, both physically and psychologically,” Saeed added.

The film will run online, in cinemas and across key U.K. channels on Feb. 24, with social media activity in support.

“For us as a company and even more so as Ukrainians, it was a must that we do a project like this. All help, any voice that can spread the word, share the pain, needs to be supported,” said Darko Skulsky, founder of Radioaktive.

CREDITS

Brand: Disaster Emergency Committee
Direct marketing manager: Pete Teverson
Director of fundraising and marketing: Simon Beresford
Director of communications: Hannah Richards
Ukraine humanitarian campaign lead: Shabby Amini
Content manager: Shagufta Yaqub
Communications and brand manager: Barney Guiton

Agency: Don’t Panic
Founder: Joe Wade
Creative partner: Rick Dodds
Client partner: Jane Marshall
Head of client services: Georgia Williams
Executive producer: Jennifer Clare Houlihan
Senior project manager: Chloe Cross
Senior producer: Chloe Shaw
Junior producer: Ani Bosco

Production Company: Stink

Directors: Rick Dodds and Leo Maquire
Global head of film: Blake Powell
Managing director: Andrew Levene
Producer: Valentyn Petyshkin
Post producer: Shea Coleman

Service Company: Radioaktive
Executive producer: Kate Galytska
Producer: Valentyn Petyshkin
DOP: Lena Chehovska
1st AD: Yuliya Sotnikova
Production manager: Vova Altsybeev
Props master: Vasya V Tkachuk
Art dept: Max Davidenko
Gaffer: Artem Tischenko
Focus puller: Kirill Shlyamin
Playback: Zhenya Ischenko
Sound: Andrey Vaskovskiy
Unit manager: Tolik Koval
Wardrobe: Dasha Potepnyova
Make up artist: Juliia Tihomirova
Casting assistant: Yuliya Tolkachova
Location manager: Eugine Kasamara
Edit: Trim
Editor: James Forbes-Roberton
Producer: Noreen Khan
Grade: Company3
Colorist: Simon Bourne
EP: Ellora Soret
Color Line Producer: Kerri Aungle
Post: Framestore
Senior producer: Michael Brown
Junior flame artist: Aadel Matoorianpour
Production assistant: Conor Garnett
Sound: 750MPH
Sound design and mix: Sam Ashwell and Michalis Anthis
Audio producer: Olivia Ray
Music: Infra 5 – Max Richter
Music supervision (Max Richter): Sarah Giles / King Lear
Music supervision (Gerry & The Pacemakers): Stephen Ettery / Wake The Town

Cast Credits:

Mum: Aniyiya Glushko
Younger Son: Dima Kravchuk
Swinging son: Miron Shuvalov
Older lady: Vira Yevtushenko
Older man: Viktor Kosherenko
Bicycle delivery: Sergiy Zhigan
Doctor: Milana Bekova
Truck delivery: Vadim Korzun
Dog walker: Mihail Romanov
Refugee mum: Alina Aruthunian
Refugee director: Vira Petrova

Special thanks to…. Sarah Giles (King Lear) & Madison Westwood (Universal Music).