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Oscar Nominee to Direct “Foreign Bodies”—Cannes-Announced Film on Ukrainian Scientist Waldemar Haffkine
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An international historical drama Foreign Bodies about Waldemar Haffkine—a Ukrainian-born scientist from Odesa and a pioneering figure in global bacteriology who developed vaccines against cholera and plague—has been officially announced during the Cannes Film Festival.
According to NV on May 20, Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning filmmaker Shekhar Kapur will direct the project, which tells the story of a scientist whose work is credited with saving millions of lives.
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Born in Odesa, Haffkine became one of the most influential scientists of his era. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, his pioneering research into vaccines against cholera and plague played a crucial role in combating deadly epidemics, and his scientific legacy remains an important part of the history of modern vaccinology.
The film will span multiple locations central to Haffkine’s life and career, including Odesa, Paris, London, Mumbai, and Kolkata.
Director Shekhar Kapur described Foreign Bodies as a story of both epic scale and profound inner conflict.
“It is a story of extraordinary scale, but at the same time of deeply personal and internal conflict — about a man who saved millions of lives and became both revered as a god and condemned as a devil. The film includes a love story that crosses cultural divides, one that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking,” he said.
The Ukrainian side of the production is represented by producer Yegor Olesov, co-founder of United Heroes, known for his work on several Ukrainian and international projects, including The Price of Truth, The Rising Hawk, Mavka. The Forest Song, and others.
Olesov emphasized the importance of bringing Haffkine’s legacy back into international focus.
“For us, it is important to be part of a project that returns Waldemar Haffkine to the international context not only as a great scientist, but as a person whose story begins in Ukraine and at the same time belongs to the whole world. This is a film about science, dignity, prejudice, belief in truth, love, and the price sometimes paid by those who are ahead of their time,” he said, according to NV.
The screenplay was written by British screenwriter Paul Tweedy, who spent three years researching Haffkine’s life, including work with family archives. According to Tweedy, Kapur’s experience in biographical storytelling — including the film Elizabeth — makes him an ideal choice for a narrative that combines scientific discovery, romantic obsession, and large-scale historical upheaval.
The international producing team also includes Jean-Daniel Zecharias of Curiosity Rights, Helen Hethfield, and Alexandra Stone. The production brings together expertise from independent cinema, auteur filmmaking, and projects with strong international casting potential.
Casting for the lead roles is currently underway. The filmmakers note that Haffkine’s story carries particular relevance today, as the world continues to grapple with the aftermath of a global pandemic, renewed debates over trust in science, and ongoing challenges posed by antisemitism and xenophobia.
At the same time, Ukrainian documentary RESCUE has been included in the official selection of the Raindance Film Festival in London. The film’s participation was confirmed after the festival released its official program, where the project is listed among the featured titles.
RESCUE is a feature-length documentary following individuals who risk their lives to evacuate animals from active war zones in Ukraine. According to Every Animal, while millions of people flee the fighting, the film’s protagonists move in the opposite direction—through shelling and mined roads—to reach animals left behind.
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