Ukrainian writer Sana Dutka: I advise aspiring writers not to give up – rejection doesn’t mean your manuscript is bad

Kyrylo Teslenko is a Ukrainian writer for whom russia’s war against Ukraine became the turning point that pushed him to fully pursue his literary path. Kyrylo had been writing since childhood, but his first truly serious work became his novel Island. The author didn’t want to portray people with superhuman abilities – on the contrary, his characters are ordinary individuals who, as part of a competition, find themselves on an island where only one of them can win the prize and survive according to the rules. Kyrylo opened up with Drive Music Media about the beginning of his writing journey, the first presentation of his book, and the deeper meanings he wove into his story.

Anika Boyle is a Polish-Scottish, award-winning actress and the star of the film Day Drinker, where she plays the lead child role alongside Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz. She also stars in the series Summerwater, marking her television debut which premiered on Channel 4 on November 16. The series is an adaptation of the novel by Sarah Moss, directed by Robert McKillop and Fiona Walton. The script were written by John Donnely. The ensemble cast includes Dougray Scott, Shirley Henderson, Valene Kane, Arnas Fedaravičius, Anna Próchniak, and Daniel Rigby. Anika remains true to herself and, just like during her first in-depth interview with Drive Music Media, continues to choose roles that contrast strongly with who she is in real life. Violeta Zaliskeviciute-Piotrowska – her character in Summerwater – shares only two things with Anika: her mixed Polish-Scottish background and a certain observant nature. In everything else, they are complete opposites. Anika is an extrovert in real life, while Violetta is deeply introverted. These are exactly the kinds of roles Anika is drawn to – layered, complex, and far from her own personality. The series carries a tense atmosphere that grows heavier with each episode. Every character harbors their own fears and secrets, which inevitably shapes the environment around them. In her second interview with Drive Music Media, Anika opened up about the fire scene, the process of seeing herself through the lens of her characters, the influence of the Scottish setting on the production, and what her first-ever television appearance meant to her.

YAN LIENSHYN is a Ukrainian photographer and cinematographer whose worldview – and artistic vision – was profoundly reshaped by the ongoing russian-Ukrainian war, now lasting more than eleven years. His works have been published in international magazines such as MALVIE, STYLÉCRUZE USA, GMARO, Eclair, Darkly Art, Looplite, BOYS BOYS BOYS BOYS, Vigour, 6X, Spellbound, World Encounter, Beautica. According to the photographer, there is always something personal in his projects. He strives to intertwine aesthetic beauty with truth. Lienshyn continuously walks the line between extremes, merging beauty with chaos – as seen in his photo project “Jocker” – as well as pain with ascent, and other emotional dualities. Yan shared insights with Drive Music Media about the beginnings of his journey in photography, his artistic vision, and the impact the war has had on his creative identity.

George Manta is a digital artist, illustrator from Argentina, and founder of his own design studio — someone who was never drawn to the traditional path or classical art education systems. George believes in self-education and is convinced that if you truly love what you do, you will succeed. He works in the field of concert posters, portraying artists with a deep sensitivity — capturing their individuality while maintaining his own distinctive style. According to the artist, his journey into creating concert posters began with his friends who played in local bands. It was the independent music scene that first opened the doors to art for him. The artist’s main goal is to evoke emotions and create true works of art — not just serve as a visual tool to convey information about a concert. George has created posters for artists such as Paul McCartney, Dante Spinetta, The Rolling Stones, and many others. Most recently, he designed a poster for Paul McCartney's Got Back Tour 2025. George shared with Drive Music Media his insights on the beginning of his artistic journey, his commission for Paul McCartney, the creative vision behind the concert poster, and the easiest and most challenging sides of the artistic profession.

Sofia Lapsiuk is a Ukrainian makeup artist specializing in creative makeup who has chosen to avoid using any animal-based products in her work, creating all her looks without gelatin. Unfortunately, the exploitation of animals for the sake of art still goes unpunished in the fashion industry. According to Sofia, she doesn’t like it when her work is called “creative,” as she considers her looks simple. With Halloween approaching, her next project will be a Frankenstein-inspired look — Sofia is drawn to eerie and macabre styles. Sofia shared with Drive Music Media about the beginning of her journey, her refusal to use animal-based products in cosmetics, and her upcoming projects.