The 16th OIFF unites world and Ukrainian cinema in programs that explore deep social and personal conflicts

The 16th Odesa International Film Festival will present two special programs that will unite viewers around the most relevant topics of world and Ukrainian cinema, as well as become an opportunity for new meetings with such stars as Tony Servillo, Josh O’Connor, Vicki Krieps, Monroe and others.

The Festival of Festivals and the Festival of Ukrainian Festivals are a journey into the deepest issues of our time: trauma and memory, the struggle for freedom and dignity, the fragility of human bonds, generational conflict, and the challenges of a global crisis. Each of the films presented reveals an experience that transcends national borders, but at the same time speaks to the extremely personal.

Festival of Festivals

The Ceremony (2024, UK, dir. Jack King)

Kristy and Yusuf work as car washes in Bradford, trying to hide their traumatic past. After the mysterious death of a colleague, they embark on a journey through the Yorkshire Dales, which turns into a test of moral boundaries and escalates over the course of one night. The film was presented at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Evenings of Solitude (Tardes de soledad, 2024, Spain, France, Portugal, dir. Albert Serra)

An intimate portrait of bullfighter Andrés Roca Rey, who takes the risk of entering the ring not only as a tradition, but also as an aesthetic challenge. The film explores how a special form of beauty is born in the confrontation between man and wild animal. The premiere took place at the San Sebastian International Film Festival.

"On the Edge" (Au bord du monde, 2024, Belgium, dir. Geren Van de Vorst, Sophie Musel)

A trainee nurse Alexia meets a patient Mila in a closed ward of a psychiatric hospital. Despite warnings to keep their distance, a connection arises between them that questions professional and personal boundaries. The film was presented at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival.

"The Sicilian Letters" (Iddu – L'ultimo padrino, 2024, Italy, dir. Fabio Grassadonia, Antonio Piazza)

Former politician Catello gets a chance to regain his influence after prison when he agrees to help the secret services track down the last major mafia boss. A dangerous correspondence with a childhood friend turns into a game of truth and lies. The film was included in the program of the Venice International Film Festival.

Escort (2024, Croatia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, dir. Lukas Nola)

During a business trip, Miro spends the night for the first time with a sex worker, whom someone sends to his hotel. Afterwards, he finds her dead in the bathroom. A successful, happily married man and father of two, Miro tries to hide the tragic incident with the help of two hotel employees.

At first, their demands seem petty, but over time they get out of control. Two accomplices unexpectedly change his life forever. The film was shown at the Pula Film Festival.

Choirmaster (2025, Czech Republic, Slovakia, dir. Ondřej Provazník)

In the early 1990s, 13-year-old Karolina joins a prestigious girls' choir and finds herself under the tutelage of a mysterious maestro. What seemed like a triumph gradually reveals the dark side of power and the vulnerability of childish trust. The film was included in the program of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

The Mastermind (2025, USA, dir. Kelly Reichardt)

The events unfold in Massachusetts in the 1970s, where unemployed carpenter J.B. Mooney dares to commit his first major robbery. But an unsuccessful attempt will destroy his life, showing how fragile the illusions of success are. The film was shown in the program of the Cannes International Film Festival.

Re-creation (2025, Ireland, Luxembourg, dir. Jim Sheridan, David Merriman)

Based on the real-life murder case of producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the filmmakers create a fictional trial where fact and fiction intertwine, exploring the fine line between evidence and interpretation. The film premiered at the Tribeca International Film Festival.

Ange (2025, France, dir. Tony Gatlif)

Musician Ange sets out to find his old friend Marco, seeking reconciliation. His companion is the daughter of his former lover, the rebellious Soleil. The journey becomes a way to find the path to joy and healing. The film was included in the program of the Cannes International Film Festival.

Festival of Ukrainian Festivals

"Queens Of Joy" (2025, Ukraine, France, Czech Republic, dir. Olga Gibelinda)

Three Ukrainian queer personalities - Marlene, Monroe and Aura - remain in their native country despite a full-scale war with Russia to fight for the visibility and rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Despite the horrors of the war, they unite to organize a charity drag show in support of their country. The film was included in the program of the international film festival "Sunny Bunny".

"Bartka" (2023, Ukraine, dir. Volodymyr Bakum)

Due to global warming and deforestation, the inhabitants of the Carpathians are threatened by floods. Forester Vasyl Pavlovych leads teams that harvest wood for government orders. His house is under threat of flooding, but he is convinced that the main cause of the disaster is global climate change. The film was included in the program of the International Ethnographic Film Festival “OKO”.

“Antarctica: War Diaries” (2024, Ukraine, Great Britain, Switzerland, USA, dir. Volodymyr Khomko)

In 1996, Ukraine received the British Antarctic Station “Faraday”, paying for it symbolically only 1 pound. This gave the country a chance to return to polar research.

In 2022, 21-year-old Volodymyr Khomko, together with a team of scientists, set off on the 27th Ukrainian Antarctic expedition, which started a few days after the start of the full-scale invasion. Through the eyes of the director, the audience watches the wintering of fourteen members of the mission, who are experiencing the war in conditions of absolute isolation. But the most important question remains open: what awaits them after the expedition ends?

The film was presented at the Molodist International Film Festival.

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