A panel discussion follows the film.

Winner of the 2024 Sundance Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary, PORCELAIN WAR is a stunning tribute to the resilience of the human spirit, embodying the enduring hope and passion of ordinary people living through extraordinary circumstances. As war ravages their homeland, three artists choose to stay in their native Ukraine, armed with their art, their cameras, and for the first time in their lives, their guns.

From the Academy Award-winning producer of THE COVE and the Emmy Award-winning producer of CHASING ICE, and the team behind the Grammy Award-winning QUINCY, PORCELAIN WAR is one of the most decorated documentary features of 2024.

Presented in Ukranian, English and Russian with English subtitles.

Panelists:

Marshall Mayer is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Ukraine Aid International, a U.S.-based nonprofit delivering direct humanitarian and infrastructure support to frontline communities across Ukraine. Since 2022, he has led the organization’s strategy, fundraising, international partnerships, and cross-border operations, overseeing projects that provide clean water, heat, electricity, emergency vehicles, and other essential assistance to more than 500,000 Ukrainians. Marshall also helped develop UAI’s network of 22 Sister City partnerships and led the creation of the first Sister State partnership between Connecticut and Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast. His background spans finance, technology startups, and international operations.

Bogdan Shestopalov is Director of Operations at Ukraine Aid International, leading the organization’s work on the ground in Ukraine. He coordinates the delivery of critical infrastructure, vehicles, equipment, and humanitarian assistance to communities near the front lines while managing UAI’s relationships with Ukrainian local governments, regional administrations, and nonprofit partners. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Bogdan has worked directly with communities facing bombardment, displacement, and the destruction of essential services, helping ensure that assistance responds to locally identified needs and reaches its intended destination. His frontline experience gives him a uniquely practical perspective on humanitarian response, municipal resilience, and Ukraine’s long-term recovery.

Marco Volpitta is a resident of Pound Ridge, NY, and has volunteered in different capacities over the past several years. After graduating from college and earning his pilot’s license, he returned to Ukraine in 2025 to join the Ukrainian military because he believes the future of democracy depends on victory in Ukraine. He has spent the past 10 months as a drone pilot and engineer, serving in the Donbas region.