Ukraine Has No Intimacy Coordinators for Film Sets
Ukrainian actress Anastasiia Pustovit has highlighted the absence of intimacy coordinators in the country’s film industry, a gap that significantly affects production quality and actor safety. Currently, no specialists are available to ensure the security and comfort of performers during intimate scenes. This issue is especially pressing in TV series production, where such scenes are often handled without proper protocols, while in cinema, only rehearsals for intimate moments are possible.
As of now, the profession of intimacy coordinator does not exist in Ukraine. Pustovit stressed that the lack of these professionals could lead to legal complications.
“We don’t have actors’ unions, proper contracts, protection of actors’ rights, or an intimacy coordinator. I hope that one day we will. This is primarily a safeguard for production companies against potential future lawsuits,” the actress stated.
The Critical Role of Intimacy Coordinators
An intimacy coordinator is responsible for ensuring the actor’s comfort, hygiene, and mental well-being, while also establishing clear boundaries during on-camera work. Pustovit noted that this role is particularly vital for male actors portraying difficult characters, such as rapists.
“It’s just as hard for them to play those scenes, especially when they’re playing rapists. It’s unpleasant. You don’t want to be that person,” she emphasized.
According to Pustovit, Ukraine currently lacks both the financial resources and the patience needed to establish an intimacy coordinator system. She remarked, “Given the pace at which we’re shooting now… I see that we have neither the money nor the patience for this.” The actress also expressed concern over the growing rarity of rehearsals in recent productions.
For context, Pustovit was awarded the Order of Merit, Third Class, personally presented by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she found herself under occupation in the Kyiv region, spending two weeks in the temporarily occupied village of Nemishaieve, Bucha District, Kyiv Oblast.
The absence of intimacy coordinators in Ukraine not only jeopardizes actor comfort but also exposes production companies to serious legal risks. The problem extends beyond a lack of trained professionals—it reflects a broader failure to build infrastructure that protects performers’ rights. This issue demands urgent attention to create safe working conditions in the Ukrainian film industry and safeguard everyone involved in the production process.