STROKE
Directed by Natalka Tsybulska
United States · 2026 · 3 min 58 sec · Drama
Submitted to RTV International Film Festival 2026Synopsis
STROKE is a deeply personal short film inspired by a true story. At just 33, a young mother suffers a sudden stroke, leaving one side of her body paralyzed. As she struggles to regain her independence, she discovers that the hardest battle is not only physical, but emotional — learning to live with a body that no longer feels like her own.
Credits
Directed by Natalka Tsybulska
About the film
At 33, a young mother's life changes in an instant when she suffers an unexpected stroke. The right side of her body stops responding, turning the simplest everyday actions into overwhelming challenges. Surrounded by the life she once knew, she must confront fear, helplessness, and the painful uncertainty of recovery. Motherhood, once filled with effortless gestures of love, becomes a powerful motivation to keep fighting. STROKE explores the invisible emotional struggles behind physical rehabilitation — the loss of independence, the frustration of a changed body, and the courage required to begin again. Inspired by the director's personal experience, this AI-generated short film brings a deeply human story to the screen, raising awareness of stroke in younger adults and reminding audiences that recovery is not only about regaining movement, but also about rediscovering hope, identity, and strength.
Director(s)
Natalka Tsybulska is a Ukrainian AI filmmaker, Creative Director, and founder of Adele AI Production Studio. She specializes in photorealistic AI filmmaking, cinematic storytelling, and generative AI production, creating narrative films and commercial content for international clients. Her creative work has received international festival recognition, including a Best Drama award for STROKE. Drawing from her personal experience of surviving a stroke at the age of 33, Natalka created STROKE to transform a deeply personal journey into a cinematic story about motherhood, resilience, and the emotional reality of recovery. Through her work, she explores how emerging AI technologies can bring meaningful human stories to life.
Official link
Film stills
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RTV International Film Festival — Inaugural Online Edition · 2026