Competition Programme: Ukrainian Animation

In support of Ukraine, we invite you to come and discover the Ukrainian animation industry and its creators! For this year’s festival, we have selected the most interesting short animated films by Ukrainian creators and put together a competition programme, with the winner being selected by an international jury.

12A
Participants:
Kateryna Omelianenko
Kateryna Omelianenko
Iryna Tanasiichuk
Iryna Tanasiichuk
Iuliia Kotsiuba
Iuliia Kotsiuba
Olena Onyshchuk
Olena Onyshchuk
Jury:
Davide Abbatescianni, Viliam Vala, Eglė Davidavičė

Bus Stop
Bus Stop #

2024 / Portugal / 4 min 9 s

A traveling artist, accompanied by a crow, comes across an abandoned bus stop adorned with Soviet symbols. He intends to paint the facade with Petrykivka, but the crow's cawing distracts him, causing him to destroy the symbol.

Directed by Alina Didenko Screenwriter: Alina Didenko Producer: Alina Didenko Company: Escola das Artes - Universidade Católica Portuguesa

I died in Irpin
I died in Irpin #

2024 / Ukraine, Czech Republic / 11 min 22 s

24 February 2022 my boyfriend and I fled from Kyiv to Irpin. We spent 10 days in blockaded city and managed to escape with the last evacuation convoy. Time passed, but the feeling that I died in Irpin never left me since then. The film reconstructs this true story of survival through a personal and subjective lens.

Directed by Anastasiia Falileieva Screenwriter: Anastasiia Falileieva Producers: Alena Vandasová, Martin Vandas, Juraj Krásnohorský, Anastasiia Falileieva Company: MAUR film, Artichoke, Plastic Bag Studio

The Land Keeps Watch
The Land Keeps Watch #

2025 / Estonia, Ukraine / 7 min 52 s

The living Mountain makes friends with the Hiker following his act of kindness towards it, but not before long, a war breaks out and tears them apart.

Directed by Iryna Tanasiichuk Screenwriter: Iryna Tanasiichuk Company: Estonian Academy of Arts

Kupala Night
Kupala Night #

2024 / Ukraine, Sweden / 2 min 55 s

A young girl is about to get unwillingly married, though she can't put her feelings aside and just accept her fate. This is a story of searching for your own freedom, expressed through symbolic of Ivana Kupala festival and Ukrainian culture.

Directed by Ievgeniia Shastina Screenwriter: Ievgeniia Shastina Producer: Pär Berg Company: Sorangens Folkhogskola

Memoirs
Memoirs #

2024 / Ukraine / 3 min 47 s

The animated documentary "Memoirs" follows a girl on a swing, whose music transports her into a journey of memories, where moments with loved ones intertwined with war and betrayal. As nostalgia engulfs her, light prevails over darkness, revealing the beauty of fleeting past moments.

Directed by Olena Onyshchuk Screenwriter: Olena Onyshchuk Producer: Olena Onyshchuk Company: Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema and Television University

Okean Elzy - Mukachevo
Okean Elzy - Mukachevo #

2025 / Ukraine / 4 min 17 s

"Mukachevo" is a Music Video for the legendary Ukrainian band Okean Elzy.
The band wanted to announce the release of their new album with this clip.
With only six weeks until the release and using a mix of traditional frame-by-frame and motion animation, we’ve created this intimate story, using even minor details of the lives of the band members, particularly the lead vocalist.

Directed by Vitalii Nebelskyi Screenwriter: Olya Kapys Producer: Vitalii Nebelskyi

My closet
My closet #

2025 / Ukraine / 3 min 39 s

Under the influence of tragic circumstances, the young woman is forced separate with her husband. While doing ordinary things and maintaining contact with her lover, she tries to overcome her fear and despair. Will she be able to cope with her feelings if the connection is lost?

Directed by Iuliia Kotsiuba Screenwriter: Iuliia Kotsiuba Producer: Oleh Malamuzh Company: Projector Scool

Off-Time
Off-Time #

2025 / Japan, Ukraine, United States / 10 min 45 s

A data engineer rushes through life, believing multitasking saves time—but it only creates chaos. Despite his strict control over time, nothing gets done: his home is a mess, work overflows, and breakfast is always burnt. He discovers joy in life only when time breaks apart.

Directed by Nata Metlukh Screenwriter: Nata Metlukh Producer: Nata Metlukh

The Only One to Care
The Only One to Care #

2025 / Ukraine / 7 min 58 s

Since the start of the invasion on 24th of February 2022 many people were forced to leave their homes, so that they could find a safer place. However, some weren't so mobile as they had not just their own life to carry on but also a life of a loved one with disabilities who cannot take care of themselves alone.

Directed by Kateryna Omelianenko Screenwriter: Kateryna Omelianenko Producer: Olena Kasavina Company: I. K. Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television

The Town On The Sand
The Town On The Sand #

2024 / Ukraine / 5 min 50 s

The russian occupation attempts to invade the imprinted memories, where the light in Ukrainian cities is preserved.

Directed by Vladyslav Kalenskyy Screenwriter: Vladyslav Kalenskyy Producer: Vladyslav Kalenskyy

Weathered
Weathered #

2024 / Ukraine / 1 min 34 s

During the morning routine, one can either quarrel with or make peace with their wrinkles.

Directed by Anna Ivanenko Screenwriter: Anna Ivanenko