Ron Schildknecht - Mother, Protect Us

In the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an artist seeks solace in her work and her faith as she struggles to keep both her mother in Kharkiv safe and her daughter in Chicago at peace.

Digital video, 7 minutes, color

KATERYNA TKACHENKO as DARIYA

Mother, Protect Us features Kateryna Tkachenko in the lead role of Dariya.

A Ukrainian- born actor, model and visual artist. Kateryna helped her parents escape Ukraine after the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war and still has other family members and close friends remaining in Kharkiv.

Kateryna was part of the creative team serving as script consultant as well as the key translator.

Kateryna Tkachenko

WRITTEN and DIRECTED by RON SCHILDKNECHT

Ron Schildknecht is an independent filmmaker, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor working in Louisville, Kentucky and Chicago, Illinois. Working in both dramatic and documentary form, his work, including The Legend of the Pope Lick Monster, My Porcelain Past, Borderlines, and Fragments of a German American Mind, often explores local history and culture. These films and others - Heavens Above and Muggs & Toast - have received awards at film festivals across the country. The Legend of the Pope Lick Monster continues to be a cult classic.

Ron Schildknecht

Screenings

2025 Ukrainian Film Festival of America, Chicago

CREDITS

Written and Directed by
Ron Schildknecht

Dariya
Kateryna Tkachenko

Tetiana
Ludmila Tyshenko

Marina
Yeva Wild

Translation
Kateryna Tkachenko

Associate Producer
Flora Schildknecht

Camera and Editing
Ron Schildknecht

Production Assistance
Isaac Regalado

© 2025 Germantown Films

Specifications

Project Type: Short
Runtime: 7 minutes 18 seconds
Completion Date: November 16, 2025
Country of Origin: United States
Country of Filming: United States
Language: English, Ukrainian
Shooting Format: Digital
Aspect Ratio:1. 6:9
Film Color: Color