Alexander Kühn's "If I Could Fly" Takes Flight at HollyShorts Film Festival

Key Takeaways

• Children's Trauma in War: Alexander Kühn's If I Could Fly sheds light on the hidden traumas of children affected by war, emphasizing their deep-seated fears and anxieties.
• Authenticity Through Casting: The film's authenticity is bolstered by an entirely Ukrainian cast, with input from Ukrainian friends, ensuring the dialogue and story resonate with genuine experiences.
• Independent Filmmaking Insight: Trusting your gut feeling is essential, as Kühn shares his belief in a filmmaker's instinct guiding them through production challenges.

The compelling short film If I Could Fly, directed by Alexander Kühn, is set for its screening at the HollyShorts Film Festival.

The film delves into the psyche of a 10-year-old girl dealing with the trauma of war, brought to life by a talented team including producer Marco Henn, director of photography Jan David Gunther, and a cast led by Anzhelika Eshbaieva.

With a crew influenced by genuine experiences and insights from Ukrainian friends, the film captures the authentic struggles of displaced children.

Q&A Interview

What drew you to make this film? Why this story, and why now?

We wanted to create a film that addresses the traumas of children affected by the consequences of war, highlighting that these traumas are often not immediately visible. Instead, they manifest as deep-seated, long-term fears and anxieties, which may, for example, appear in nightmares. The film contrasts the seemingly outward unscathed appearance of the children with the internal processing happening in their minds and dreams.

What surprised you most about the filmmaking process this time—creatively or logistically?

Our top priority was the film's authenticity, which is why it was crucial to have an entirely Ukrainian cast and to seek advice from Ukrainian friends during script development. We wanted the dialogue between the older and younger sisters to feel as natural as possible, so we worked with an actress who had just turned four. Ensuring the flying in the dreams was as realistic as possible was a challenge met with the help of a highly experienced stunt crew and the courage of our main actress, Lika Eshbaieva.

"Our protagonists represent millions of children worldwide who share similar, and in many cases, even worse fates."

What was the hardest creative decision you made while making this film?

The balance between in-camera vs. VFX shots.

What do you hope audiences take away from your film?

We hope our story will convey the immense weight these children must bear. Our protagonists represent millions of children worldwide who share similar, and in many cases, even worse fates. This makes it all the more important for us to stand up for the innocent victims of war—especially the children.

"Ensuring the flying in the dreams was as realistic as possible was a challenge met with the help of a highly experienced stunt crew."

How do you hope being part of HollyShorts will shape the life of this film?

Being part of HollyShorts gives this film the chance to reach an international audience and to spark conversations about the emotional impact of war on children — without politics, just through empathy. We hope the visibility helps the film find its way into classrooms, festivals, and organizations that work with displaced families.

Where do you see this film going next?

We hope to bring If I Could Fly to more festivals around the world—especially those that focus on human rights, youth perspectives, and social impact. We're exploring options to collaborate with educational platforms and NGOs, and a broader online release is planned for the near future.

"At the core of all my work is a desire to create empathy — especially for those whose voices are too often overlooked."

Main Cast and Crew

• Stunt Supervisor: Ralf Haeger & Leo Plank
• Art Director: Olga Gredig
• Costume: Samira Schenk
• Casting: Olga Lyubarova, Matheis Casting, Alex Kühn
• Editor: David Gesslbauer
• Music: Alexander Wolf David
• Sound Design: Julian Berg, Marco Dahl
• Color Grading: Marina Starke (OkayStudio)
• Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH
• Co Production: Tempomedia & RadicalMedia London
• VFX: Monkeys.tv, UPP, ACHT, S&E, Spellwork, Celluloid, Elevate, Eye Candy (Cleanup by Replayboys)
• Cast: Daria Trotsenko, Elena Borozenets, Oleg Karpenko