The 16th OIFF Presents “The Art of Trauma” Program

As part of the 16th OIFF, which will take place from September 24th to October 4th in Kyiv, viewers will be able to see the special program “The Art of Trauma.” The films presented in this program explore the consequences of war for society, culture, and the individual, showing how art becomes a tool for experiencing trauma and finding meaning.

Each film creates a unique space for reflection, immersing the viewer in the personal stories of people who are trying to live, create, and maintain humanity during war.

We’re Fine (2025), dir. Mykhailo Karpenko

Two and a half years after the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian artists and volunteers head to Burning Man to create a large-scale installation. Using road signs from the de-occupied territories, they display the phrase “I’M FINE” — a symbol of how people hide their pain and try to hold on despite circumstances.

The sculpture becomes a place for meetings, reflections, and dialogue about war, trauma, and the strength of the Ukrainian spirit, demonstrating how art can become a platform for frank conversation about painful experiences.

War on Art (2025), dir. Andrzej Mikus

On February 24, 2022, Ukrainian museums were under threat, and the country’s artistic heritage was forced to go underground. When the enemy threatens cultural centers, an army of volunteers without official leadership stands up to protect the artifacts, risking their own lives.

“War on Art” shows that the fight to save cultural heritage is also a fight to preserve national identity and historical memory. This film is a testament to the resilience, determination and dedication of artists and volunteers in the darkest times.

Match in a Haystack (2025), dir. Joe Gill

After the Russian invasion, members of a leading Ukrainian contemporary dance company try to find meaning in their work in a world that has changed forever. The search for resistance, inner strength and opportunities for self-expression eventually leads them to dance, which becomes both a way of survival and a form of artistic resistance.

The film shows how through the body and movement one can express complex emotions, cope with trauma and continue to create in difficult times.

Kyiv Soloists (2025), directed by Trond Kvig Andreassen

In February 2022, 15 musicians from the Kyiv Soloists Orchestra went to Italy for a short concert tour, and that same evening, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Chaos and uncertainty force the musicians to find their own way in new conditions.

During the tour of Europe, they not only carry a message of peace through music, but also go through personal trials, overcoming fear and loss. The film becomes a story of endurance, mutual support and the search for harmony in the conditions of war.

The program “The Art of Trauma” is an opportunity for the audience of the Odesa International Film Festival to immerse themselves in contemporary cinema that reflects the pain, resilience and power of art as a tool for understanding trauma and life in war.

The Odesa International Film Festival is supported by:

Ukrainian State Film Agency

The European Union and Creative Europe Desk Ukraine

Adam Mickiewicz Institute “Instytut Adama Mickiewicza”

Polish Institute in Kyiv

German Films

Official Sponsor – ARARAT

Official Automotive Partner – BMW Ukraine

General Partner of Film Industry Office – UPHub

Official jewelry partner - Carrera Y Carrera

General Technological Partner -Hisense

Official partner bank – Pivdenny