It seems like only yesterday when we first walked into a blown-out Jul’s coffee shop just days after the Russian retreat from Bucha. No electricity, no water, no windows, just a few shell-shocked workers sweeping up broken glass in the cold trying to get to the point when they could offer free coffee to workers and neighbors starting to rebuild.

It was a fitting place to hold the Ukraine premiere of Back to Bucha on January 5th as it holds such a prominent place in the film, including an interview with Julia, the shop’s owner who has rebuilt the place with the help of so many. The picture we are using to promote the event is of she and her daughter from a year ago when visiting the renovated shop, newly rechristened as Jul’s Coffee and Peace (www.julscoffee.com).

Taken all together they display the best of Ukraine and its Spirit. Because while Bucha is remembered for the atrocities committed there it is also the site of Ukraine’s first victory of the war as they forced the Russians into a humiliating retreat a month later; an example of what Ukrainians are capable of when provided state-of-the-art weapons like Javelin missiles.

Bear Witness, the film's Executive Producer, sponsored the screening which doubled as a fundraiser. Which is where our supporters and friends can make a difference.

Proceeds will go to providing free bags of Jul’s coffee to soldiers on the front lines. She has personally sent more than 500 bags so far.