A movie showing of 2014's "The Guide" will raise funds for Ukrainian relief efforts at the Shepherdstown Opera House. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — On Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m., local residents will be able to support the “Stand With Ukraine Through Film” campaign, by attending a film showing in the Shepherdstown Opera House.

The nationwide project was launched at Cinema Salem in Salem, Mass. a month after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, according to Stand With Ukraine Through Film Communications Director Lisa Vucelich.

“Since its launch in March 2022, Stand With Ukraine Through Film has arranged for ‘The Guide’ to be shown in almost 700 cinemas across the United States and in Australia, Canada and the Netherlands. The project has raised more than $150,000 to help the Ukrainian people,” Vucelich said. “Most people contribute simply by attending a screening of ‘The Guide’ in their community, and all participating cinemas are forwarding us the resulting ticket revenue.”

Vucelich noted that the same film is featured at all of these fundraising film showings. Based upon true events, Ukrainian director Oles Sanin’s 2014 film, “The Guide,” tells the story of a 10-year-old American boy who visits the Ukraine in the 1930s and is caught up in the Soviet Union’s efforts to exterminate millions of Ukrainians.

“One hundred percent of donations will be used to support Ukraine through humanitarian relief and public education,” Vucelich said. “Grants are being awarded to international humanitarian organizations and smaller Ukrainian-American organizations with advice from Ukrainians in Kyiv and elsewhere, Ukrainian scholars in the U.S. and others. We are also supporting Ukrainians in that nation’s film industry.”

Greene

Shepherdstown’s showing of the film will operate on a pay-as-you-wish basis. Tickets may be purchased at https://shepherdstownoperahouse.thundertix.com/events/216196. The movie showing will be followed by a virtual question-and-answer session with Ukrainian-American actor Anton Greene, who co-stared in the film at the age of nine. Greene is now a student at the University of Michigan, majoring in political science and jazz.

“When the Stand With Ukraine Through Film project contacted us, we said yes immediately to hosting this fundraiser,” said Shepherdstown Opera House co-owner Steve Pearson. “When we see the events in Ukraine on television and the internet, they can seem distant and clinical. Watching ‘The Guide’ helps us feel the struggle of the Ukrainian people – that it’s not just a conflict over borders or economic power, but an ongoing war of ideals and freedom.”

Those who may not be able to attend Saturday afternoon’s showing have two other local options to choose from. Tonight at 8 p.m. in Berkeley Springs, “The Guide” will be screened at the Star Theatre. Tickets will be $10 and available through purchase at https://historicstartheatre.square.site/?item=431. On Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. in Martinsburg, “The Guide” will be screened at the Apollo Civic Theatre. Tickets will be $15 and available for purchase at https://apollocivictheatre.org/season-details/.

Additional opportunities to donate toward the campaign will be offered at each location.

To learn more about the Stand With Ukraine Through Film campaign, visit https://www.standwithukrainethroughfilm.org/.