ANATOLY MATESHKO
Ukrainian film director, actor, and screenwriter. Member of the National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine.
Born in 1953 in Hostomel, Kyiv region. He graduated from the Kyiv State Institute of Theatrical Arts named after I.K. Karpenko-Kary.
He began his career in the 1970s as an actor in Soviet cinema, but by the 1980s shifted his focus to directing. Mateshko soon became one of the key figures in Ukrainian cinema, blending national cultural traditions with a contemporary cinematic language.
He gained wide recognition for both his feature films and television projects, many of which explore important historical, social, and cultural themes. He pays particular attention to stories for children and young audiences. Among his most popular works is the detective TV series “Oper za vyklykom” (The Operative on Call).
Other notable works include “Secrets of Great Ukrainians”, “Chorna Rada” (The Black Council), and “Zalyshenets. Chornyi Voron” (The Outcast. Black Raven).
Mateshko’s films have been screened at Ukrainian and international film festivals, receiving critical and audience acclaim. Beyond film and television, he actively participates in cultural and educational initiatives that contribute to the development of Ukraine’s audiovisual arts.
The main character in episodes of our series:
Part 17: THE EXECUTED RENAISSANCE
Part 19: UKRAINIANCE IN GULAG
OKSANA SMILSKA
Oksana Smilska is an actress, model, and director.
After graduating high school, she was invited to the Kyiv Fashion Theater as a model and participated in fashion shows in Prague, Athens, and Budapest. In 1996, she graduated from the Kyiv State Institute of Culture and began performing in musicals at the Studio Kolo Theater.
In 1999, she created her own show based on the poetry of Taras Shevchenko, touring numerous Ukrainian cities. Since 2001, she performed on stage at the Ivan Franko Kyiv Theater.
In 2003, she played the leading role in the film Anna produced by the Kyiv Film Studio. Starting in 2006, while continuing to act in theater, she became the director of a children's theater group at the Youth Culture Palace. She was also extensively involved in dubbing foreign films into the Ukrainian language. Altogether, she appeared in 14 films.
In 2016, she moved to Canada and joined the Ukrainian theater Zaharava in Toronto. In 2018, she performed in the multimedia historical play Edigna in Krakow. Since 2019, she has been the Head of the Children's Theatrical Group at the Ukrainian Heritage Academy.
The main character in three episodes of our series:
Part 18: HOLODOMOR (1932–1933: Hunger as a Weapon.
How the Ukrainian village was destroyed)
Part 21-22: UKRAINIAN WOMEN IN THE CAMP
YURI TSEVI
Yuri Tsevi (real name — Yuri Tsivtsivadze)
Born on June 10, 1954, in Tbilisi. Soviet, Russian, and Canadian theater and film actor, director, and tour guide.
In the 1970s, Yuri graduated from
the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS).
In 1977, he joined the Chamber Jewish Musical
Theater (CJMT)under the direction of Yuri Sherling.
He took part in productions including
the opera-mystery “Black Bridle for a White Mare”
and other performances based on works by Jewish authors.
In 1991, he was invited to play Jesus Christ in the musical
“Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Mossovet Theater,
where his stage partner was Igor Portnoy (Judas).
In 1992, during a tour in Canada with the “Russians on Broadway” troupe, he fell seriously ill. He emigrated to Canada, as proper treatment was nearly impossible in Russia of the 1990s.
In Toronto, he continued his artistic career, becoming part of the Russian-speaking theater community and working for MixTV.
In addition to acting, Yuri became well known as a tour guide: he founded 5 Star Tours International and led engaging one-day excursions across Ontario for Russian-speaking tourists.
In 2018, a documentary titled “I Shall Pour My Tears Over Fiction…”, directed by Olga Smakova, premiered in Toronto.
The film explored his life and work, portraying him
as a connoisseur of Canadian history,
a captivating storyteller, and a remarkable intellectual.
Yuri Tsevi passed away in December 2024,
leaving a bright memory and a significant contribution
to the cultural life of Canada’s Russian-speaking community.
The main character in three episodes of our series:Part 22: FOREIGNERS IN THE GULAG
Part 23: THE PRICE OF UTOPIA
Part 24: HOW TO SURVIVE IN A CAMP
