Explore this year’s DOCU/YOUTH programme — its themes, meanings, and sources of inspiration — through a curatorial text by Docudays UA programmer Oleh Melnychuk.
The world has changed and become more complicated. But, as ever, it holds many forces for good. One of them is the energy of youth.
How do you cross the threshold between the illusions of childhood and the reality of adulthood in a world that turns out to be nothing like you once imagined? In youth, each of us must walk this uncertain path and search for our own answers. To accept the world as it is, and keep moving forward, guided by dreams. To make your own choices — and stand by them. To fall. And yet still rise. To learn the most important lesson of all: never give up.
This year’s DOCU/YOUTH program explores the formation of identity in challenging — and at times, alien or even hostile — environments. The central theme of the selected films is the search for strength and motivation to pursue one’s goals despite everything, and to rise above the circumstances.
Still from The Track
The headline film of this year’s program – The Track by Canadian director Ryan Sidhoo – radiates a sense of kindness for both its audience and its characters as it follows the story of three Bosnian teenagers. Together with their coach, they restore a legendary luge track, once built for the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics, now abandoned, covered in graffiti, and scarred by bullet holes from war. And they begin to train. But The Track is more than a classic underdog sports story – though it is that, too. It delves deeper, becoming a poignant reflection on the search for identity in the aftermath of trauma. The war has left its mark, changing everything, shaking the foundations of these young lives. What emerges is an inspiring and deeply human story about holding onto one’s dreams and believing in oneself, no matter the odds. It’s also an intimate portrait of a new generation coming of age after war, in a reality that has become harsh and unwelcoming far too soon.
Mastering TikTok, grappling with one's own voice, the delicate boundary of parent-child relationships, adjusting to a new environment and the feeling of an unfamiliar home, searching for the vanished magic of water... These themes in the five short films included in the traditional DOCU/YOUTH short film selection each bring their own nuances.
Still from King Ridwan
The protagonist of Sammy Shefa Idris's Dutch film King Ridwan is a 20-year-old resident of Leeuwarden, known in his city for his TikTok videos that go viral. The film raises questions about the fragile boundaries of social media, as Ridwan's 'popularity' is also rooted in the mockery of a person with a significant intellectual disability. But does this matter to a protagonist who truly believes in his dream of becoming a social media superstar?
Still from A Place to Call Home
A Place to Call Home by director Parisa Aminolahi depicts the story of an Iranian refugee family — a father and his two daughters — who settle in Sweden and adapt to their new home. How receptive are children to relocating, and how easily can they begin to see a new place as their home? The modern world is filled with stories of refugee families like this one. This film explores the theme of how children adjust to a life that will never be the same again.
Still from Echo
Accepting oneself, overcoming fears, and finding self-confidence — traits typical of adolescence — are explored in Emi Buchwald’s Polish film Echo through the experiences of two protagonists undergoing speech therapy. To overcome their stutter, they must stop fearing their voices and shed their shyness. This marks the first step in their conscious journey toward self-discovery.
Still from What’s the Film About?
In the short film program, the winner of the IDFA Award for Best Youth Documentary (ages 9–12), the Indian film What’s the Film About? by Poorva Bhat. By addressing the issue of trust between children and parents in discussing uncomfortable topics, the director immerses viewers in the emotions of children facing discomfort and rejection. Overcoming obstacles, even through this simple childhood story, leads to the next steps that will shape their future.
Still from Mû
The final piece of the short film selection will be the atmospheric animation Mû by German director Malin Neumann. A magical and uplifting journey of a child on a fairy-tale creature’s back, searching for a way to restore the water that has disappeared. A journey in which one must believe in what they seek and in their desires. The reward for faith and sincerity always comes in full.
…The challenging stage the world finds itself in should not, however, be decisive in shaping the generation that will emerge amidst ongoing uncertainty, upheaval, and destruction. In curating this program, I aimed to focus on the qualities that are intrinsic to youth and can withstand difficult times.
These are perseverance, confidence, and hope.
The energy of youth must prevail.
Featured image: Still from The Track
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.
