This Spring the marks the release of a new feature film highlighting the history of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (CYM), produced by CYM’s National Executive Board. Major cinematic projects are not new to CYM in the United States – they began in the 1950’s, when Valentyn Koval founded a project called «CYM-FILM» which, during that decade, produced no fewer than two dozen documentary films highlighting the many spheres of CYM’s activism and growth.
It was only a year ago that a new «CYM-FILM» Production Board was officially formed, but plans for its first modern film have quickly come to fruition. The official premiere of «CYM in America: Fragments» will take place on April 13, 2013 at CYM’s National Plenum in Baltimore, Maryland. As its name suggests, this film highlights a number of facets of CYM’s work, and it is comprised of four key fragments:
– «A Prehistory» – the beginnings of CYM in 1925 in Kyiv, as well as the story of its rebirth in the diaspora;
– «The Greatest Generation» – describes that first generation of emigrants who built CYM beyond Ukraine’s borders; recollections of their efforts and their achievements; and an assessment of that generation through the eyes of their descendants;
– «The voice of an enslaved Ukraine» – CYM’s members’ work to inform the western world about Ukraine’s story; fascinating recollections of episodes and events from the decades that enslaved Ukraine;
– «Educating and nurturing Ukrainian youth» – about CYM’s central activities, focused on the nurturing of children and youth.
This film features numerous recent interviews, and is built on historical archives and chronicles. It begins with restored film footage from the notorious 1930 «Kharkiv Trials of CBY-CYM», and goes on to reveal numerous archival documents and photographs not seen in many decades. English language subtitles are available, making the film accessible to non-Ukrainians in our community. The film’s director is Svyatoslav Lypovetskyi of Ternopil, who last year initiated a project researching CYM’s local and national archives, is also well known as the author of numerous historical books, including «CYM: In Service to God and Ukraine».
Not one, but two nuggets can be found within the packaging that holds the DVD version of «CYM in America: Fragments». Also included in the set is second DVD disc containing an almost two hour film, directed by well-known director Yaroslav Kulynych, titled «Ukraine, I live in your name». The film, which hasn’t been shown publically since its premier in 1968, documents CYM’s first two decades in the United States, and features footage from many of the organization’s branches throughout the country as well as its summer campgrounds. This film was professionally digitized in 2013, and is included as a bonus feature length film for those purchasing «CYM in America: Fragments».
The release of the two DVD set is just the beginning of the CYM National Executive’s plans for «CYM-FILM». Reviving the «CYM-FILM» name again after a 45 year break, CYM will produce a series of films about the organization, and plans to release future film sets containing a historical chronicle of CYM in the United States. In particular, work has already begun to make the films of Valentyn Koval from the 1950s available to CYM members and to the broader community.
The trailer for «CYM in America: Fragments» can be viewed at https://bit.ly/cymfragments.
