Presentation of modern Ukrainian cinema at the Zinebi festival in Bilbao

In 2022, at the international documentary and short film festival in Bilbao, Ukraine was represented in an individual program “Focus Ukraine: once I was a director, now I am a soldier”, organized by the festival together with the Ukrainian Institute and the International Documentary Film Festival on human rights Docudays UA.

Programme

The programme included three full-length and three short documentaries that were filmed in Ukraine:

– “Day of the Ukrainian Volunteer”, directed by Volodymyr Tykhy

– “Mariupolis 2”, directed by Mantas Kvedaravicius

– “Overcoming the Darkness”, film association “Kinodopomoga”

– “Letter to the Dove”, directed by Dana Kavelina

– “Peace and Tranquility”, directors Myro Klochko, Anatoliy Tatarenko

– “Liturgy of Anti-Tank Obstacles”, directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk

Panel discussion

During a panel discussion about Ukrainian focus at the festival, the participants discussed how modern Ukrainian cinema is created under the conditions of war, its practical problems and challenges.

Ukrainian producer Olga Bezhmelnytsina, Natalia Movshovych, head of the “Cinema” department and Iryna Kyporenko, program manager of the “Cinema” department of the Ukrainian Institute took part in the discussion. The conversation was moderated by Vanesa Fernández Guerra, head of the ZINEBI festival.

About Zinebi film festival

The international documentary and short film festival Zinebi has been held in Bilbao (Spain) since 1959. Its competition program includes documentaries, feature and animated films.

Since 1974, FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations) has recognized ZINEBI as an “A” category festival specializing in short and documentary films. In addition, the Hollywood Academy has accredited the festival as a film selector for the “Oscar” award, the EFA Awards for the European Film Academy, the BAFTA of the British Academy and the Goya Award of the Spanish Academy.