This year, DokuFest will host nine Ukrainian documentary films from Docudays UA and a photo exhibition titled «UA_24022022.JPG.»
The festival’s organisers emphasise that the Focus Ukraine program transcends artistic exchange, representing a crucial rebuilding effort for both Kosovo and Ukraine. By sharing stories of resilience, this initiative aims to bridge cultural gaps and foster empathy.
Feature Films
- Iron Butterflies by Roman Liubyi, exploring the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.
- Intercepted by Oksana Karpovych, based on intercepted Russian phone conversations.
- Mission 200 by Volodymyr Sydko, following a woman transporting fallen soldiers’ bodies during the invasion.
- A Bit of a Stranger by Svitlana Lishchynska, observing four generations of women from Mariupol.
- Nice Ladies by Maria Ponomaryova, focusing on a cheerleading team of women aged 50+ from Kharkiv.
Short Films
- Boots in the Ground, Hands in the Soil by Karolina Uskakovych, reflecting on the director’s connection with her grandmother and plant therapy.
- Our Home by Anna Yutchenko, depicting her apartment in Lviv as a transit point in February 2022.
- Position by Yuriy Pupyrin, about Ukrainian soldiers in a Territorial Defence battalion.
Peace and Tranquillity by Myro Klochko and Anatoliy Tatarenko, a drama-essay on playwright Andriy Bondarenko’s life in Ukraine post-invasion.
The DokuTalks platform will feature panels co-curated by Eroll Bilibani and Dea Gjinovci, addressing the challenges of documenting war crimes and the role of human rights film festivals in supporting filmmakers during crises.
Photo Exhibition
The«UA_24022022.JPG.» exhibition, curated by Oleksandra Nabieva and Ferdi Limani, will showcase works by Ukrainian photographers who document the war. The exhibition aims to provoke discussions about the relationship between media and reality and the role of photography in documenting social injustice and inequality.
