The theme of this year’s festival is Rare Resource. It originated from associations and thoughts on the agreement between Ukraine and the US on rare earth metals. Indeed, we do have resources to mine. We also have uniquely rich soils. In addition, we have resources you cannot mine, but they are no less valuable than metals.
One of these resources, the resort called Kuyalnyk in the Odesa Region which is well-known in Europe, is explored by the Irish filmmaker Gar O'Rourke. His Sanatorium will open the 22nd Docudays UA, and in this film we will already have a chance to see that Ukraine’s rare resources are also our citizens, medical workers who treat people under bombings and return them to life. The film will launch the thematic discussion on what the rare resources of Ukraine and other countries actually are.
Together with the directors of four other films in the thematic programme (An American Pastoral by Auberi Edler, Oasis by Tamara Uribe and Felipe Morgado, A Land of Paper by Marion BOÉ, The Soldier's Lagoon by Pablo Álvarez Mesa), we will discuss resources as the power for creating society based on participatory democracy, where citizens actively participate in decision-making and creating change in their communities and in the country, rather than simply delegating this work.
Ukrainians, like no one else, have demonstrated to the world throughout their history outstanding examples of participatory democracy. We will speak about the struggle for the European future of our country, about the need to develop and support civic engagement, to reform social institutions and state policies. About strengthening our capacity to resist the enemy, about horizontal cooperation in everyday life — for the sake of Victory.
Text: Darya Averchenko, Director of the Communications Department at Docudays UA, member of the Selection Council.
“This year we turned to the aesthetics of folk naïve art. Artists who are captivated by the beauty of our natural riches, who see them and cannot resist painting them. It is about sincerity, about the unique culture of our people, about the fullness of life and color, and about our agency as well. We invited artist Oleksandr Hrekhov to collaborate. The tablecloth, watermelon, loaf of bread, and bouquet are a declaration of love for our homeland, its fertility, and the creative energy of the people who live here. A chest of rare earth minerals — an element from modern history — may become a symbol of our success and guarantees of security,” comments Roman Bondarchuk, Artistic Director of Docudays UA.
Poster design: Dasha Podoltseva
The 22nd Docudays UA is held with the financial support of the European Union, the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, International Renaissance Foundation. The opinions, conclusions, or recommendations do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union, the governments, or organisations of these countries. Responsibility for the content of the publication lies exclusively with the authors and editors of the publication.
