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The 17th Odesa International Film Festival (27 August – 4 September, Kyiv) unveils its National Competition Programme, featuring 14 feature-length films—four fiction and ten documentaries. New works by Ukrainian filmmakers and international co-productions explore the experience and consequences of war, human resilience, memory, loss, and the search for the future, offering a multifaceted portrait of contemporary Ukraine.
The films in the National Competition will compete for the awards for Best Ukrainian Feature Fiction Film and Best Ukrainian Feature Documentary. The winners will be selected by an independent international jury.
In addition, one film from the National and International Competition Programmes will receive the Grand Prix, determined by audience voting. The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) will also present its own award to one of the films in the National Competition.
Fiction Films
To The Victory! Directed by Valentyn Vasyanovych, Ukraine, Lithuania, 2025
A dystopian vision of Ukraine's difficult post-war future. A film director who can no longer work in his profession remains in Ukraine, while his wife and daughter have been living in Vienna for several years and see no reason to return home. As they struggle to redefine themselves in a transformed reality, they hold on to the hope that even the darkest times will eventually pass.
Wings Directed by Ana Rocha de Sousa, Portugal, Ukraine, Cyprus, 2026
Orysia and Veronika flee Ukraine with the little girls and the women of their family, seeking refuge in Portugal, only to learn that exile doesn’t end a war. In a seemingly safe country, the war’s aftershocks seep into ordinary days, and peace struggles to take hold, however quiet the landscape seems to be.
Kira's Dream Directed by Denys Kolesnikov, Ukraine, 2026
As Kira prepares to emigrate from Ukraine, her journey becomes an odyssey in search of home. Through her relationship with her younger sister, music, and personal discoveries, she tries to understand herself— until the outbreak of the full-scale war changes her life forever.
The Soloist Directed by Serhii Storozhev, Ukraine, 2026
After being dismissed from a provincial theatre, the cynical actor Lev accepts an unusual job: pretending to be a psychiatric patient so medical students can practise for their exams. Initially looking down on those around him, he unexpectedly undergoes a profound inner transformation. A story about second chances, human dignity, and the power of compassion, the film gradually changes not only its protagonist but also the lives of those around him.
Documentary Films
Of Cossack Stock Directed by Roman Krupach, Ukraine, 2025
The personal story of the filmmaker, who volunteered to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 25 February 2022, served on the front line, and was seriously wounded in 2024. Real footage from combat positions, hospitals, and rehabilitation centres is interwoven with black-and-white animation, conveying the experience of war where the camera can no longer capture reality.
The Miner Directed by Mykola But, Ukraine, 2026
Residents of Donbas face an unbearable choice: remain at home under constant threat or abandon everything they once called life. Running parallel is the story of volunteers who risk their own lives to evacuate civilians from frontline areas and rescue their pets.
Clouds Move with Great Speed Directed by Roman Ostrovskyi, Ukraine, Germany, 2025
Three stories—a man who lost his family in an airstrike in Borodianka, a woman permanently leaving her home in Bakhmut, and a wounded soldier who dies on the way to hospital—come together in a moving reflection on loss, resilience, and humanity. The film was created by documentary cinematographer Roman Ostrovskyi, who later enlisted in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Time Machine Maidan Directed by Volodymyr Tykhyi, Roman Liubyi, Ukraine, Germany, 2026
A wounded 21-year-old soldier is transported from today's battlefield back to the winter of the Maidan Revolution, awakening in December 2013 during the March of Millions. Guided by memory, he searches for a young poet and future soldier destined to die ten years later. Blending documentary reality with poetic metaphor, the film reflects on memory, freedom, and the power of personal choice.
One Day I Wish to See You Happy Directed by Maryna Nikolcheva, Ukraine, France, 2025
As war disrupts the ordinary course of life, filmmakers Maryna and Max struggle to preserve their relationship. The camera becomes their way of speaking about love, care, and the fragility of intimacy in a world that has changed forever.
Rescue Directed by Alessio Schiazza, Ukraine, USA, 2025
After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, millions of Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes. At the same time, animal rescuers move towards the war—crossing mined roads, enduring shelling, and entering devastated villages to evacuate abandoned animals. In a world where life is tested every day, compassion proves to be as powerful as courage.
The Theatre of Veterans Directed by Yuliia Bolshynska, Ukraine, 2026
Ukrainian veterans, service members, combat medics, and volunteers embark on a journey of rehabilitation through theatre. Rehearsals, performances, and deeply personal experiences gradually create a space of trust, where art helps them process trauma, reconnect with themselves, and return to civilian life.
Silence of the Esturiares Directed by Volodymyr Bakum, Ukraine, 2026
Set in the Tuzly Lagoons National Nature Park during the full-scale war, the film follows the park's director, scientists, and staff over four seasons as they document environmental war crimes, rescue birds, fight poaching, and restore fragile ecosystems. It is a meditation on the vulnerability of nature and the quiet strength of those who protect it every day.
To Die To Live Directed by Yuliia Hontaruk, Ukraine, Latvia, Slovakia, 2026
In 2014, three Ukrainian volunteers fought on the front line as Russia's war first reached Ukrainian soil. They return home profoundly changed. Having suffered loss and faced death, they confront a new challenge: how to find themselves again in a world that seems unchanged. How do you stay alive when part of you died in the war? Just as a fragile peace begins to emerge and life appears to move forward, Russia launches its full-scale invasion, calling them back to the battlefield once more.
Festival passes for the 17th Odesa International Film Festival are available via the link: https://new.oiff.com.ua/en/choose-your-pass-2026