The event was organized by the Ukrainian Institute in Germany. Notable guests included the Institute’s director, Kateryna Ritz-Rakul, Ukrainian writer Sofia Andrukhovych, Arsenal Cinema founders Erika and Ulrich Gregor, and representatives from the Ukrainian Embassy in Germany.

Following the screening, a profound discussion featured film scholar Anna Onufriienko and Berlinale Forum head Barbara Wurm, moderated by Maria Zoryk, Communications Manager of the Ukrainian Institute in Germany. The panel explored Dovzhenko’s avant-garde contributions, his artistic studies in Berlin, his interactions with German artists, and his influence on Ukrainian and global cinema. The complex relationship between the director and the Soviet totalitarian regime, as well as the contemporary relevance of Arsenal in the context of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, were central themes of the discussion.

“Arsenal is as complex as Dovzhenko’s life—he was the most intricate of all avant-garde filmmakers of his era. Some concealed or ignored their identity (Vertov, Eisenstein). Dovzhenko, from the outset, highlighted his Ukrainian identity and integrated it into his work,” commented Barbara Wurm, head of the Berlinale Forum, during the post-screening panel discussion.

Attendees praised the live musical accompaniment, the opportunity to immerse themselves in Dovzhenko’s work, and the chance to learn more about Ukrainian avant-garde cinema and the historical context in which it emerged.

The event was organized by the Ukrainian Institute in Germany in collaboration with the Dovzhenko Centre and Arsenal Cinema in Berlin (Arsenal – Institut für Film und Videokunst e.V.).