"Horizons of Belonging" | Documentary Film Screening and Q&A
30 January 2026
About this event:
What does it mean to be a Ukrainian newcomer in Alberta?
Horizons of Belonging follows four Ukrainian families over the course of a year in Edmonton and Calgary as they rebuild their lives after escaping Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Through deeply personal stories of displacement, resilience, and identity, the film explores what it means to be a Ukrainian today—and what it truly means to start over in a new country.
This event is free of charge. Registration is required.
Lineup:
Steven Brese — Co-Director, Edmonton-based visual storyteller with a background in media production. He worked for four years in Ukrainian television in Kyiv before returning to Canada in 2015. Steven films, edits, and directs with a passion for highlighting stories that inspire and connect communities. Steven recently released "Silent Courage", a 25-minute film in four languages including Ukrainian and American Sign Language that features Ukrainian deaf newcomers to Canada.
Oleksandr Pankieiev — Co-Director, Associate Professor and Kule Chair of Ukrainian Culture and Ethnography at the University of Alberta, Oleksandr also serves as president of the Alberta Ukrainian Film Festival as well as the Alberta Society for the Advancement of Ukrainian Studies. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles, books, and films focusing on Ukrainian history and culture, and editor of the collected volume Narratives of the Russo-Ukrainian War: A Look Within and Without (2025).
Olena Goncharova — Executive Producer, Development Manager and Canadian correspondent for The Kyiv Independent, and formerly with the Kyiv Post, Olena has been based in Edmonton since 2018 and holds an MA from the Institute of Journalism at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.