Short Documentary Film "Two Infinities"

"Two Infinities" is a short documentary film that explores the long-standing history of collaboration between Ukrainian and French scientists in the field of high-energy physics. While russia’s aggression against Ukraine has severely complicated this cooperation, it has also endowed it with new meaning and significance.

A major milestone in the revival of close scientific ties between researchers from France and Ukraine was a working meeting held in June 2025 in the town of Orsay, France. The event was initiated by the leadership of IJCLab – the Irène Joliot-Curie Laboratory of the Physics of the Two Infinities (University of Paris-Saclay), with the support of the Erasmus+ Programme and the Embassy of France in Ukraine.

Scientific presentations at the meeting were delivered by physicists from V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, the National Science Center “Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology”, the Institute for Scintillation Materials of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kharkiv, Ukraine), as well as by colleagues from several laboratories in France, Germany, Italy, and Denmark.

The film features reflections from both Ukrainian and French scientists – participants of this important event dedicated to the memory of Academician Mykola Shulha, a distinguished Ukrainian physicist, alumnus and professor of Karazin University, head of department, and one of the founding figures of this collaboration. The voices in the film speak about modern science, international cooperation, academic continuity, and scientific traditions that transcend all barriers – political, cultural, and linguistic.

Creative Team:

• Serhii Fomin — concept author, scientific advisor
• Lidiia Starodubtseva — director, interviewer, camera operator
• Max Holovachov — video editor, VFX designer