When We Dance shares the personal, heartfelt stories from the ongoing war in Ukraine from the world's best Ukrainian and Russian ballroom dancers.

Interview with Director/Producer/Editor Nick Waters

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

This film came about as a response to the war breaking out in Ukraine. What’s happening is a tragedy and a humanitarian crisis and I wanted to offer support and awareness in the best way I know how. In my case, that meant making a film sharing stories from people directly affected by the war. Everyone who is part of this film came together with the shared purpose of trying to help this horrible situation. If our film could help just one person in this war then that would be considered a win for us all.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

The ongoing war in Ukraine is the most devastating and consequential event for our world today. While much of the conversation around the war focuses on its political, economic, and global implications, this film takes a different approach and highlights the personal human suffering from the war. It is crucial that we come together as a species to recognize the human tragedy that is going on right now.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

When We Dance harnesses the power of cinema to elevate the personal, often heartbreaking, stories from the war. Regardless of where you are from, we can all relate to and sympathize with the victims of this brutal war. The film focuses on themes of family, humanity, and what it means to be a global citizen.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The feedback on the film has been extraordinary. Apart from winning film festivals and being recognized on various news platforms, the response from the audience has been incredibly rewarding.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

The positive feedback from the film has made me hopeful that we can come together to bring this tragic war to an end.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I am looking to share this film with the world to make a difference in the war. I would love for more people to watch the film and find a home for the film on a platform.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Distributors and journalists/press. We want to share the stories in this film with the world and that means working with a platform with a global audience.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I am putting together a couple of new scripted feature film projects across multiple genres.

Interview: June 2023

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

When We Dance

When We Dance shares the personal, heartfelt stories from the ongoing war in Ukraine from the world's best Ukrainian and Russian ballroom dancers.

Length: 29:36

Director: Nick Waters

Producer: Nick Waters

Writer: Nick Waters

About the writer, director and producer:

NICK WATERS is a writer, director, and producer. Originally from South Florida, Nick was a nationally ranked swimmer growing up, breaking over a dozen state and national records, and was a member of the USA Junior National Team. Nick went on to earn his B.S. and M.A. degrees from Stanford University where he studied engineering and film history, screenwriting, and film production, and was a member of the varsity swim team, competing at the USA Olympic Trials. Currently based in LA, Nick’s recent work includes writing and producing the horror feature film Margaux for Paramount Pictures and directing and producing the award-winning documentary on the war in Ukraine, When We Dance.

Key cast: All are playing themselves in the documentary: Karina Smirnoff, Vitalii Proskurin, Ganna Pelypenko, Valentin Voronov, Mykhailo Bilopukhov, Anastasiia Shchypilina, Danylo Yanchyshyn, Dascha Wright, Iaroslav Bieliei, Liliia Bieliei, Roman Drobotov, Liya Kazbekova, Oleksandr Kamniev, Kateryna Kamnieva, Serhiy Averkov, Olena Barna, Max Sinitsa

Looking for: sales agents, distributors, buyers

Instagram: @_nickwaters_

Website: www.whenwedancefilm.com

Other: IMDb

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

TBD