Charades and CAA Media Finance launch sales for Ukraine-focused documentary debuting at TIFF Docs

Charades and CAA Media Finance have launched sales for “Black Sunflowers,” the new feature documentary directed by James Marcus Haney that will open in the TIFF Docs slate at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film follows a cohort of Ukrainian youths—soldiers, civilians and artists—whose coming-of-age is defined by martial law and front-line duty, juxtaposing ordinary moments in clubs and cars with the harsh realities of war.

Haney worked closely with a Ukrainian production team headed by Volodymyr Yatsenko of Limelite and a local crew, while producers Pedram Rezaee, Vlad Bolyelov and co-producers Yevhenii Zdorovylo, Samy Mosher, Eric Maldin, Anna Yatsenko and creative producer Mikayla Jean Miller helped shape the project. Sean Penn joins as an executive producer alongside Jay and Cameron Bush, Adam Tudhope, Anna October and Dianna Agron. The soundtrack includes tracks by Fred again.., Brian Eno’s Secret Life project, Brad Oberhofer, Koloah and a roster of electronic artists, ending with a Kyiv choir rendition of Morphine’s “Do Not Go Quietly Unto Your Grave.” Haney hopes the documentary will broaden the global view of the Ukrainian conflict by highlighting everyday resilience and shared humanity.