The official premiere of the short documentary film Underseen, directed by British filmmaker Rafael Cortez, took place in Kyiv, focusing on the experiences of blind individuals amidst the realities of a full-scale war.

The story centers around guides from the Lviv branch of the Museum in Darkness, Alina Marnenko, the museum's director, and veteran Vitaliy Veres, who lost his sight on the front lines. Through their narratives, the film reveals the strength of the human spirit and the role of social entrepreneurship in supporting vulnerable communities.

According to the director, Underseen is an attempt to reshape societal perceptions of blindness and war-related trauma, giving a voice to those who are often overlooked. The premiere served as a platform for public discussion featuring the creators and heroines of the film, including producer Zhanna Maksymenko-Dovhych, founder of the «03:00» Foundation Alina Marnenko, guide Viktoriya Shevchuk, and the director himself. Ksenia Shvets, a museum guide, comedian, and stand-up performer, moderated the event.

Thanks to partnerships with SILab Ukraine, USVF, the «03:00» Foundation, and support from the European Union, the film received an audio description created in collaboration with the «Accessible Cinema» initiative and the Greta app.

During the event, a trailer for the upcoming feature film «Blind Arc» was also presented, which continues exploring themes raised in Underseen.

The film tells the stories of Ukrainian veterans who lost their sight due to the war, particularly focusing on Ivan Roman, a soldier from Mykolaiv who, in 2024, lost a leg, an arm, and his sight while saving his comrades.

«Blind Arc» immerses the viewer in a profound process of adaptation, rethinking reality, and searching for inner strength after trauma.