At Future for Ukraine, we combine support for people affected by war with efforts to create lasting change. Part of this work involves raising awareness of the needs of women experiencing ambiguous loss and helping make psychological support more accessible. Today, we are sharing news of international recognition for these efforts.
The social impact video “Ambiguous Loss Is Trauma”, created by the Future for Ukraine foundation in collaboration with Luminance Production, has been selected as a finalist at Big Syn International Film Festival 2026 — the world’s largest sustainability film festival. The festival takes place in London with support from the UN, the Mayor of London, the BBC and the British Council. The finalists’ work will be assessed by a Grand Jury that includes Oscar and BAFTA winners.
For Future for Ukraine, being selected as a finalist in the Charity category is particularly meaningful. It is an opportunity to share the experiences of Ukrainian women whose loved ones are missing or held captive with an international audience and highlight their need for professional psychological support.
Olena Nikolaienko, President of Future for Ukraine (USA) and the foundation’s strategy and fundraising lead.“When the world hears the words ‘missing’ or ‘held captive’, we want it to see the families whose lives have become a constant wait. The women whose experiences we portray in this video need understanding and accessible professional support — even when their stories are no longer in the news. Reaching the festival final helps us speak about this to an international audience. Our task is to turn that attention into partnerships and long-term support programmes”
“Ambiguous Loss Is Trauma”: what is the video about?
Waiting for news of loved ones who have gone missing during the war or are held captive means living with uncertainty, caught between hope and despair. A lack of understanding of this experience, along with prejudice, can leave women alone with their distress.
To share this experience, the Future for Ukraine charitable foundation teamed up with Luminance Production to create the short social impact video “Ambiguous Loss Is Trauma”. Bringing this idea to life and carrying out international advocacy were made possible by grant support from the Askold and Dir Fund, administered by ISAR Ednannia under the project “Strong Civil Society of Ukraine — a Driver of Reforms and Democracy”, funded by Norway and Sweden.
The video shows women of different generations waiting for a phone call from someone they hold dear. They share the same pain and emotional roller coaster — from hope to despair. They may live this way for months or even years.
The video was produced in English to reach a wider international audience and amplify the voices of Ukrainian women. You can watch the English-language version via this link. The Ukrainian version is available on the foundation’s YouTube channel.
