Help THY NEIGHBOURS's Voices Be Heard

“Any form of art is a form of power; it has impact, it can affect change – it can not only move us, it makes us move.” Ossie Davis.

I’m Elena Beuca Rogers, founder of Elliel Studios whose mission is to make Films with Purpose, to spark change and inspire hope.

When Russia attacked Ukraine, I was just three hours away in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, focused on finishing my first feature film. My husband, Dave was preparing for our move to the U.S. after nearly 18 months in Romania. But then came the call that changed everything: “Honey, we need to help the refugees...”

Within a few days, Dave was back in Romania, and together with our friend Viorica, we loaded a van with food and donations and crossed into Ukraine, heading to our first refugee camp.

As we left, I was shaken to the core. The pain of what I’d seen—and the war’s reminder of my own past trauma as a survivor of domestic abuse—left me unsettled. I felt small and powerless, questioning if anything I did could make a difference. Yet I knew from experience that people in survival mode, fighting for their lives, only want one thing: “Help me stop the beating.”

As a filmmaker, a woman, and a neighbor, I couldn’t sit on the sidelines. With a camera in my hand and a few supplies, we headed back again to Ukraine. I felt a crucial need to record the Ukrainian Voices as a indepenent filmmaker who is not backed by a studio or a major organization, instead I wanted to see what I can find out as a neighbour, as a christian and then share it with the world... I believe that independent films have always been essential for a healthy democracy and freedom of thought.

For almost one year, Dave and I traveled to both sides of the border brining aid into Ukraine and helping refugees get to the border, cooking a meal, building homes, while documenting the inspiring voices of people determined to rise above this tragedy.

This is how, THY NEIGHBOURS was born- a documentary and a mission to share their voices with the world.

Our Mission and Next Steps: Distribute and Amplify These Voices

The film was submitted and qualified it for the 2024 Oscars with the original title "Thy Neighbours"- , hoping that Hollywood can get involved and get it in the right hands of a distributor so its available worldwide. Unforunately , today’s media is dominated by just a few global platforms that control attention and shy away from any content that engages in political dialogue or challenges mainstream ideas.

The big distributors told us that the market was “saturated with Ukraine content.” Smaller distributors offered to take it, but only if we paid upfront, with a delayed release on a few digital platforms next spring 2025

But we felt that Ukrainians can’t wait. Every day, they face bombings, fight to survive, and desperately need food, shelter, and supplies. The most powerful help we can offer is to amplify their voices and push for an end to this war.

There are 2.6 billion Christians only on this planet. And a Christian country is being attacked by another country. I asked myself at the beginning of the war, If that was my brother or my sister, would I be quiet? And I want to ask you if that would be your brother or your sister: would you be quiet?

We shared some of the things that we have seen in the film....There is much more, that still needs to be edited and worked on ... But now I need your help , the other billions of people around the world to unite with me, to share your voice, to come together and to ask to stop the beating. I can't take it any further because for the world to actually see the film , it would need resources, resources that Dave and I don't have anymore.

We put two years and a half into making this film, and we borrowed and we begged at times, and maybe we made enemies along the way but I felt called to make this film and share their world the way I saw it as a neighbour...

We started this GoFundMe campaign because we were at the end of our rope as independent filmmakers, and we didn’t know how else to move forward and to share the film.

So if you feel called to help in any way into raising awareness, I would ask you to get involved. Donate and help us distribute this film everywhere. Let’s have it in churches. Let it be shown in communities. Let it be shown around the world. And let it ignite a kindness movement.

How YOU Can Help:

1.⁠ ⁠Donate to the THY NEIGHBOURS Campaign

Your Contribution Will:

• Support the production, marketing and distribution costs as well as further editing and production of additional footage that we have to continue sharing these vital stories

• Help raise awareness about the war’s impact on everyday Ukrainians.

• Spread the powerful message of kindness and resilience worldwide.

2.⁠ ⁠Share, Share, Share – Amplify this campaign on social media and within your communities.

3.⁠ ⁠Use Your Voice – Join the conversation and encourage others to support their cause.

Why Your Support Matters

Because the war is far from being over, and there are millions of people still enduring the devastation in Ukraine, so even the smallest acts of kindness make a huge difference, and when we unite, “small people” like you and I can move mountains. Every gift, every share, every moment you take to listen and support helps remind the world that their voices are heard, that freedom, hope, and compassion are not privileges for the few—they are rights for all.

Thank you for your support, your voice, and for joining us in this movement of kindness.

With deep gratitude

Elena