CALAMITY & MERCY, 98min., USA
Directed by Daniel W Smith
Calamity and Mercy is a feature length documentary film detailing the stories of individual Ukrainian refugees submerged in the chaos of battle, fleeing war, and integrating into new cultures, along with the NGOs and efforts in place to assist the incoming migrants.

https://www.facebook.com/calamityandmercy/
https://www.instagram.com/calamityandmercy

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
I lived in Japan for two years as a kid, then as a US service member, I deployed to Bosnia, Iraq, Horn of Africa, and Germany. I saw how war and conflict make it hard for civilians to survive both during and in post war periods. When Russia invaded Ukraine I saw the documentary as a document of witness. Something that could be a voice for the refugees and perhaps influence people to support them regain their homelands.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
It has been about 2 years. We filmed the interviews in the late Spring of 2022. It was self funded so I had to go slow after the filming to work through Post Production.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Calamity & Mercy

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Funding.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I was happy to see the audience understood and appreciated what I was trying to express.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
2008 thru 2014. I attended the Berlinale Film Festival a few times and realized I wanted to create films on a human scale. That is ordinary people dealing with extraordinary situations. I didn't want superpowers, or angelic presences helping them as much as their own effort and assistance from others.I retired from the military, finished a contractor job at US Africa Command in Germany and used the GI Bill to attend film school.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
It's a five way tie between, The Searchers, Lawrence of Arabia, the Seven Samurai, Two Women, and Casablanca.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
Distribution and streaming. Perhaps production grants/loans.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
It was simple to do.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Steak with a nice salad.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
A documentary about Afghan refugees. In particular those who served with US or NATO and were left behind. They are being hunted down by the Taliban. A second project is about Disinformation campaign strategy and tactics used by Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.