My 19-year-old Granny

Director's note

When Russia's invasion began, I was forced to confront a history I had always kept at arm's length and ask myself: how did we get here?

Searching for answers, I discovered the Lviv hippies of the 1970s. Unlike their Western counterparts, these young Ukrainians faced social disapproval and pressure from the KGB. I was fortunate to meet the movement's founders, who became the project's key consultants.

But I didn't want to make merely a historical film. I wanted to make a film about now. My protagonist, Lyuba, inherited a freedom she never had to fight for or fully value. By throwing her into Soviet Lviv, I force her to experience the true cost of that freedom, tracing our centuries-old fight against oppression. Through the dangerous choices of her grandparents, Lyuba finally comprehends her mother’s pain – and ultimately, her own. The film's statement: you cannot build a future without understanding your past.

At its core, the film’s tone is warm and poignant, deliberately balancing a rebellious rock heartbeat with a tender story of impossible love – its joy and its price. As Lyuba plunges into the raw past, the electric energy of youth forces her to feel and fight like never before.

By making a film that sparks teenagers' curiosity about their roots and helps grandparents feel truly seen, I want to connect three generations of women across two timelines – revealing what it truly costs to finally trust yourself.

Producer's note

I believe My 19-Year-Old Granny as a feature debut is an important opportunity to introduce a distinctive new female talent to international audiences.

Director Victoria Zadorska brings a fresh perspective, blending humour, emotional authenticity, and strong visual storytelling. Victoria is a Ukrainian fantasy writer, with five books published in Ukraine. I produced her short-film debut, Me, Mom and the Cosmonaut, which recently premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival and has already been acquired by the Japanese distributor ShortShorts.

The project explores themes that resonate strongly across contemporary Europe: personal freedom, finding intergenerational understanding, identity, and resistance to conformity. For Ukrainians, the narrative carries an urgent emotional weight, as years of war have profoundly shaped how young people view their future, family ties, and individual choices.

My 19-Year-Old Granny holds significant audience potential. The time-travel premise provides an engaging hook, while the vibrant mix of romance and period drama, plus rock music and comedy elements, ensures broad appeal and creates strong marketing opportunities.

Culturally, the story builds natural bridges with partner countries through a shared history of youth counterculture across Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe. The Ukrainian hippie experience closely mirrors kindred phenomena abroad, where rock music, alternative lifestyles, and creative expression served as peaceful defiance against Soviet oppression. This spirit echoes Lithuania’s legacy surrounding Romas Kalanta as well as the Czech underground music scene, most notably The Plastic People of the Universe.

Developed through MIDPOINT Intensive Ukraine 2025 and MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2026, the project benefited from the work of Ivo Trajkov and Pavel Jech as script doctors.

We are open to shooting part of the film abroad and working with an international crew, which will enrich the film.

Profile

Founded in 2011 by Olena Yershova, TatoFilm (Ukraine/Türkiye) develops auteur features and documentaries with strong co-production potential. The company has produced 10 features and 3 documentaries, earning 250+ awards, and its films have premiered at Cannes, Berlinale, Toronto, Tribeca, Tokyo, IDFA, etc.