---
title: "Eight years of production and budget struggles: creators of 'Dobre, shcho mama ne znae' give major interview"
description: "Director Oleksandr Lytvynenko and producer Yevhen Lytvynenko discussed the eight-year making of 'Dobre, shcho mama ne znae', an 8.7 million hryvnia budget, crowdfunding challenges, and wartime teamwork."
date: 2026-10-24T08:20:43.211Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/eight-years-production-dobre-shcho-mama-ne-znaje
tags: [ukrainian-cinema, movie-production, dobre-shcho-mama-ne-znaje, interview, oleksandr-lytvynenko]
author: "Marina Slivenko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Eight years of production and budget struggles: creators of 'Dobre, shcho mama ne znae' give major interview

![Director Oleksandr Lytvynenko and producer Yevhen Lytvynenko at the presentation of the film Dobre, shcho mama ne znae](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/24/vossem-let-proizvodstva-filma-dobre-sho-mama-ne-znaje/vossem-let-proizvodstva-filma-dobre-sho-mama-ne-znaje-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Production of the comedy 'Dobre, shcho mama ne znae' took eight years due to the pandemic and full-scale war.
- The film's budget reached 8.7 million hryvnias, combining state support from the State Film Agency and private funds.
- Producer Yevhen Lytvynenko unsuccessfully tried to raise $150,000 on the international platform Kickstarter.
- The entire team and cast received their fees in full without cuts despite the devaluation of the hryvnia.

Director Oleksandr Lytvynenko and producer Yevhen Lytvynenko, creators of the Ukrainian criminal comedy 'Dobre, shcho mama ne znae', have shared details about the film's thorny eight-year journey to the big screen. Over this period, the team faced the coronavirus pandemic, Russia's full-scale invasion, the loss of colleagues, and severe financial difficulties. Finishing the project required gathering a crew scattered across the front lines and abroad, and piecing together material filmed before the war.

### A long road to screens through pandemic and war

Work on the film began long before the events of 2022, but production was delayed by a series of global crises. First, the filmmakers endured COVID-19 outbreaks that put shoots on pause, while director Oleksandr Lytvynenko spent a month and a half running a high fever. The most severe challenge was the full-scale invasion: a significant portion of the crew volunteered for the front lines, while others left Ukraine and settled in different countries. Attempts to resume shooting began back in 2022, but the team could only be physically brought back to the set in 2023 after overcoming immense logistical and organizational hurdles.

### Financing, crowdfunding, and the search for funds

The total production budget for the film reached 8.7 million hryvnias, funded through state support from the Ukrainian State Film Agency, the authors' own resources, and private investments. Following occupation and captivity, producer Yevhen Lytvynenko set out to secure additional funds by launching a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, aiming to raise $150,000 from an international audience in the US, Canada, and the UK. Due to the platform's strict rules, which require all funds to be returned if the target is not fully met, as well as working through power outages with generators and charging stations, the goal was not achieved. The team also had to correspond officially with the Treasury and the Ministry of Finance to justify maintaining state support for a cultural project during wartime.

### Team fees and economic challenges

Despite the accompanying devaluation of the hryvnia and the difficult economic situation in the country, the creators set a principled goal to maintain the original production budget and avoid cutting payments to the crew. Actors and casting agents received their fees in full, and for certain positions, the authors even indexed payments to match new realities. According to the producer, this served as an important indicator for the industry that financial obligations to the creative team can be met even in times of crisis.

### Project significance and future plans

The release of the criminal comedy on the big screen after eight years of development demonstrates the incredible resilience of the Ukrainian film industry amidst existential threats. The film united the efforts of people scattered across continents by war and stands as a tribute to those colleagues whose lives were claimed by the conflict. Currently, the authors are continuing their work on promoting the film, preparing it for international distribution and streaming platforms, allowing a wide global audience to experience the result of years of labor.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- ["Пытался собрать 150 тысяч долларов". Александр и Евгений Литвиненко о бюджете украинского кино, гонорарах актеров и гибели коллег](https://wave.rbc.ua/ukr/insider/namagavsya-zibrati-150-tisyach-dolariv-oleksandr-1792828658.html) - Interview with director Oleksandr Lytvynenko and producer Yevhen Lytvynenko on Wave RBC.UA, serving as the primary source.

## FAQ

### Why did the production of 'Dobre, shcho mama ne znae' take eight years?

The process was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the full-scale invasion, crew members joining the front lines, and people relocating abroad.

### What was the film's budget and who funded it?

The film's budget was 8.7 million hryvnias, funded by the State Film Agency, the authors' personal resources, and private investments.

### Did the Kickstarter campaign succeed?

No, raising $150,000 from the international audience failed because the platform's rules require returning all funds if the goal is not fully met.