Running until Sunday, the festival will present around 60 films across various genres, including feature films, documentaries, shorts, and animations. The event, held at Kinoteka, Atlantic, and the Andrzej Wajda Centre for Film Culture, offers a unique opportunity to explore modern Ukrainian filmmaking and culture amidst the country's ongoing challenges.
Highlighting contemporary Ukrainian cinema
The festival, which has been running annually since 2016, showcases the transformation, identity, and social maturity of Ukraine, along with stories reflecting the ongoing war. This year’s edition includes three main competition sections: documentary (11 films), feature (12 films), and short films (20 films).
One of the key elements of this year's program is a special segment dedicated to the Crimean Tatars, aiming to highlight their rich culture, history, and the difficult circumstances faced after Russia's annexation of Crimea. This section will include the documentary Silent Deportation, depicting the true stories of seven Crimean Tatars who faced persecution, imprisonment, and threats, ultimately leading to their escape from occupied Crimea.
Opening and featured films
The festival will open with Grey Bees, a film awarded at the Odessa International Film Festival. Set in a small Donbas village, it tells the story of two elderly men trying to maintain a semblance of normal life amidst the chaos of war until a Russian sniper arrives, changing everything.
Another standout title is Witch of Konotop, inspired by Ukrainian folklore. The horror film follows a witch who regains her supernatural powers to avenge her loved one's death during the Russian invasion.
Among the films screening this year is Poland's official Oscar submission, Under the Volcano, directed by Damian Kocur. It follows the emotional journey of a Ukrainian family caught in the eruption of war while on vacation in Tenerife.
Cultural and community events
Beyond film screenings, the festival will include panel discussions on topics such as Crimean Tatar culture, Russian propaganda, and the experiences of Ukrainian and Belarusian minorities in Poland. There will also be exhibitions by photographers and poster artists, workshops for children, and concerts. Approximately 50 guests, including actors, directors, and producers from Ukraine and Poland, will be in attendance, including celebrated Ukrainian actors Rymma Ziubina and Vitalii Salij, and Crimean Tatar filmmaker Ernes Sarykhalil.
Tickets and more information
Following its run in Warsaw, the festival will travel to other cities in Poland, including Kraków, Gdynia, Łódź, and Wrocław, with screenings scheduled from October to December. From November 1 to 17, festival films will also be available online via the MEGOGO.PL platform.
Tickets for screenings in Kinoteka, Atlantic, and the Andrzej Wajda Centre for Film Culture are available at the cinemas' box offices and websites. For further details, visit the festival’s official site at www.ukrainaff.com.
(jh)
Source: PAP