MSP Teases New Film About Ukrainian Soldier Finding Peace In The Mountains

Earlier this month, on August 16th, Matchstick Productions released a trailer for TARAS. The upcoming documentary follows the journey of a Ukrainian soldier who grapples with the conflict his country has become embroiled in, seeking relief in the Carpathian mountains.

The film is a marked departure from MSP's usual fare -- traditional ski movies that rarely drift toward heavier subjects.

See the teaser for TARAS below.

In a press release shared with Powder, Matchstick explained the story behind TARAS.

The film is led by director Zeppelin Zeerip and director of photography Ben Sturgulewski.

Both Zeerip and Sturgulewski, who have considerable filmmaking acumen under their belts, traveled to Ukraine in March, where they met Tara Bihus, a Ukrainian citizen who spent five months deployed to the front line before receiving an injury discharge.

The filmmakers sought to tell Bihus' story, documenting the training exercises of the Ukrainian military and Bihus' re-integration into civilian life, which involved time spent snowboarding in the Carpathian mountains.

"Our primary mission with TARAS is to raise awareness about the often-neglected challenges faced by soldiers returning from the horrors of war. Through Taras' courageous pursuit of peace amidst the mountains, we aim to shed light on theimportance of mental health support for our veterans and the vital role of nature in their recovery process," MSP wrote in the press release.

TARAS is a joint effort between MSP, the directors, and Ukrainian Action, a non-profit that's donated over $1.8 million in vehicles and humanitarian supplies to Ukraine.

The film is currently in a fundraising phase, with contributions covering the costs associated with production, post-production, distribution, and festival submissions. To participate and learn more, click here.

With the release of TARAS in the future, according to the press release, MSP plans to distribute the film through its "250,000+ social media followers, YouTube, and Vimeo," thereby raising "funds for Ukrainian Action to assist with ongoing aid efforts."

The completed film will include a text slide encouraging viewers to donate to Ukrainian Action, which MSP believes will ensure that "the film is not just a feel-good piece of branded content, but something that truly makes a difference."

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