Farmak’s project, created to mark the company’s centenary, won the MMR 2026 PR Case Study Competition in the “Best Internal PR” category. The results were announced on September 25 during the Total PR Marathon 2026—a professional event bringing together the Ukrainian communications community.
At the heart of the project lies the corporate film *Resilient Compound* (Stiyka Spoluka). However, the project’s story did not begin with the idea of making a film. It started with a far more complex challenge: uniting the team around Farmak’s 100th anniversary amidst the war and pervasive uncertainty, while infusing the occasion with profound meaning.
When celebrations feel out of place
Under normal circumstances, a company’s centenary is an obvious reason for a grand celebration. Yet, Farmak marked its 100th anniversary in Ukraine during the fourth year of the full-scale war. Some employees are currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, while the loved ones of other colleagues are fighting on the front lines. Air raid sirens, missile attacks, blackouts, and constant uncertainty have become part of the team’s daily reality.
In such a reality, a traditional festive celebration would have seemed inappropriate. Consequently, the brand consciously moved away from the standard anniversary format, choosing instead to focus not on celebrating the date itself, but on telling the stories of the people behind those 100 years. Thus emerged the idea for *Resilient Compound*—a film about the different generations of Farmak, the people who built the company over the course of a century, and those who are continuing that story today.
*Resilient Compound*: A 100-Year Story
The centerpiece of the project is a 30-minute film chronicling Farmak’s transformation—from the M.V. Lomonosov Kyiv Pharmaceutical Plant, which started with 54 employees, into an international pharmaceutical company with a workforce of 3,500.
The film blends archival footage with shots of modern high-tech production facilities and R&D laboratories, alongside personal interviews with the founder, executives, and employees from various generations. The subjects discuss successes, difficult decisions, responsibility, fears, mistakes, challenges, and the values that have helped the company evolve and move forward.
To break away from the standard corporate film format, the project team invited Ukrainian actor Oleksiy Hnatkovsky. He serves as an observer and guide throughout the film: as he listens to the participants, he identifies key words that gradually come together to form the symbolic formula of the “Resilient Compound.”
One of these words is “team,” for while technologies, production processes, and laboratories change, it is people who have stood behind every transformation over the past 100 years.
A Film Premiere Amidst the War
The decision was made to host the screening of *Resilient Compound* as a genuine film premiere. Over 600 employees gathered in two cinema halls. A unique visual identity, branded tickets, posters, and a photo zone were created for the event; following the screening, a symbolic “Oscars” ceremony was held, featuring both heartwarming and humorous award categories for the film’s stars.
The premiere was organized in Kyiv during a period of blackouts caused by Russian attacks on the energy grid. Consequently, standard organizational tasks were complicated by the need to ensure autonomy and safety: a generator was rented for the cinema, a shelter was located nearby, and the team developed a clear action plan for air raid alerts.
Thus, the screening became an event that united the team and allowed everyone to feel like part of Farmak’s 100-year history.
Turning a film into a long-term communication tool
It was crucial for the communications team that *Stiika Spoluka* (Resilient Bond) did not become content with a short shelf life—a film watched once for the anniversary and then forgotten.
After the premiere, all 3,500 Farmak employees gained access to the film via internal channels. It was subsequently integrated into the onboarding process for new hires, helping to introduce them to the company’s history and values. *Stiika Spoluka* is also used in external communications and shown to Farmak’s international partners and guests.
The film is currently available on Farmak’s official YouTube channel, as well as on the SWEET.TV and MEGOGO platforms. In total, it has already garnered over 20,000 views across these platforms.
