The Ukrainian Competition brings together a vibrant mix of short films that really tap into the weirdness of our times. These filmmakers are capturing and portraying a world full of contradictions, where everything feels sharper, and the desire to live fully is stronger than ever. It’s a showcase of eagerness and resilience, offering fresh takes on what it means to navigate through such a surreal moment in history.
Q&A Session with films directors
KYIV CAKE
Director: Mykyta Lyskov
Country: Estonia, Ukraine
Duration: 22
A family in Ukraine and the difficulties they face.
CRITICAL CONDITION
Director: Mila Zhluktenko
Country: Germany
Duration: 24
Inspired by the events around the life of Lev Rebet, Ukrainian author and editor-in-chief of the Munich-based exile newspaper „Ukrainian Independist“, “Critical Condition” portrays the fates of the Ukrainian diaspora in the past and present.
LIFE BEGINS
Director: Oleksii Taranenko
Country: Ukraine
Duration: 28
The Protagonist is a war veteran who struggles to readjust to civilian life after participating in fierce battles. He finds it difficult to find his place, even at home. After a fight in a pub, he is imprisoned in a military facility and then sent back home, where memories, physical and emotional trauma, and the sounds of war haunt him.
A peaceful home seems alien to him, and people who have not experienced war cause misunderstanding and alienation. The Protagonist attempts to adapt by working on a military video script, but even this work provides no solace. His friends and acquaintances only exacerbate his internal conflict by portraying the war as remote.
(RE)COVERED MEMORY
Director: Oleksandra Pletenetska
Country: Ukraine
Duration: 16
A group of activists is fighting to preserve a historical landmark in the center of Kyiv from a developer. Their struggle is an exact parallel to the fight for memory that took place a century ago, when the soviet government attempted to erase Ukrainian identity.