The 23rd International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Docudays UA took place in Kyiv from 5 to 12 June. Screenings, events, and the exhibition were held at the “Zhovten” cinema (26 Kostiantynivska St.), KINO42 (11B Kostiantynivska St.), the Left Bank Theatre (25 Brovarskyi Ave.), as well as in the DOCUSPACE online cinema. Exclusively after the festival closed, viewers were offered a special audience day on 12 June: we re-screened the winners of the competition programs and festival hits.
This year, during the festival, we reflected on the main theme, Simple Structures. Despite the conditions of the ongoing war, we managed to unite and implement initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue between human rights defenders, cultural practitioners, military personnel, and civil activists. We established a new festival award in memory of our friend and defender of Ukraine, film editor and director Viktor Onysko. We announced an awareness campaign on how to maintain connection with people who remain in occupied territories, Being Present. And ultimately, we all joined a shared experience of watching documentary films and discussing human rights.
“Documentary cinema is about memory, history, the future, and how we can not forget what is good, difficult, or painful. I can be proud that I lived through the terrible months of this winter with you, and because of that, it seems to me that this year’s festival theme, ‘Simple Structures,’ is a brilliant idea that embodies so much that is important and valuable. I know how annoying it can be when you are told, as Ukrainians, that you are resilient, but believe me, you are the true embodiment of what this word means. Your incredible endurance and ability to innovate, to be creative in times of difficulty, to be supportive, to stand in solidarity, to build new friendships — this is impressive. I admire that even in these difficult times, Ukrainians find the strength for creativity and are able to enjoy it.”
Katarina Mathernová, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine
Festival opening ceremony. Photo: Serhiy Khandusenko
Between sleepless nights, when the enemy shelled Kyiv and destroyed our cultural institutions, 1,023 tireless and committed people took part in co-creating this year’s festival: our 168 participants and invited guests, 105 speakers, 164 partners, 178 guests and participants of the industry platform, 28 regional coordinators of the Traveling Festival, 41 moderators of DOCU/CLUB film clubs, and the festival team consisting of 220 people, as well as 119 volunteers (offline and online) aged 14 to 47 who worked across all festival venues. For the first time in the festival’s history, an entire family volunteered!
Guests from Germany, Lithuania, Denmark, France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Romania came to Ukraine despite a difficult journey. Among the international jury members this year were Tomáš Poštulka, Enikő Györeško, Rohan Berry Crickmar, Anna Lazar, and Peter Pomerantsev. The DOCU/PRO industry platform experts who joined in person included Isabel Arrate Fernandez, Brigid O’Shea, Oleksandra Zakharchenko, Alessandro Gropplero, Pauline Tran Van Lieu, Mikael Opstrup, Rohan Berry Crickmar, Claudio Hughes, Alexandre Marionneau, Enikő Györeško, Tijana Djukic, Suzanne Nadal, Emilie Bujès, Petar Mitrić, Hanka Kastelicová, Barbara Wurm, and Stefanie Fuchs.
“My trip home from the festival went well, but now I find it hard to fully ‘ground’ myself in this other reality. The restless energy of my four-year-old child helps a lot. I read about the recent shelling of Kyiv and feel unease, I empathize on another level. I had a wonderful week thanks to all of you and hope that somehow I will come back again.”
Claudio Hughes, RAW DOC showcase expert, Danish film editor and Rough Cut Service participant
The festival film program was shaped by 4 members of the Selection Board: Darya Averchenko, Roman Bondarchuk, Yulia Kovalenko, Gennadiy Kofman; 2 programmers: Oga Sydorushkina, Oleh Melnychuk; 6 advisors: Yana Rimann, Serhiy Ksaverov, Tetiana Kononenko, Sasha Kalinichenko, Serafima Melnychuk, Ihor Kromf; and 16 preselection volunteers: Anastasiya Nibbe, Marharyta Ostrovska, Kateryna-Daniela Hulbytska, Zuryan Yeva, Iryna Davidenko, Faїna Zholobak, Olena Zashko, Viktoriya Ivanova, Yana Dudko, Vira Karpinska, Anna Brovarna, Maryna Dolha, Daryna Sudachek, Liliana Filipchuk, Iryna Popovichenko, Yeva Sakhno.
In total, we issued 253 festival passes and 9,379 tickets for audiences, including discounted tickets for students, school pupils, military personnel, families of the deceased or missing, people with disabilities, pensioners, and internally displaced persons. The festival schedule was conveniently available in the ArtWizard app, and the docudays.ua website was visited by 51,619 people during the festival period! Our accreditation service tirelessly issued badges and packed gift bags with partner gifts from Lush and DeLaMark, printed festival guides, and branded merchandise.
Press briefing in a bomb shelter. Photo: Yevheniy Zavhorodniy
During the festival, we partnered with 13 national and international media outlets. 117 journalists and media representatives were accredited to prepare coverage, reviews, texts, and articles. The Simple Structures theme proved engaging, and for the first time we held a press briefing on opening day in a basement. Together with 23 ambassadors, we released 13 thematic film selections to attract new audiences. Another dozen recommendations were published in Instagram stories. By actively tagging docudays_ua and sharing photos of your “simple structures” (more than 200 were collected!), our online community grew by 1,329 followers.
“I work as a journalist covering the festival for Ukrainian Week, so I come here every day and try to attend as many films and events as possible. I feel proud of your work and values. I am impressed by the scale and range of topics you cover. Of course, the war remains an extremely important focus, but the festival does not reduce everything solely to that agenda. I especially value that Docudays UA remains open to different cultures and experiences from around the world. You maintain dialogue with the international community, show a diversity of perspectives, and this earns my sincere respect.”
Laurent Champs-Massart, writer and journalist
Lecture featuring Peter Pomerantsev. Photo: Serhiy Khandusenko
This year’s RIGHTS NOW! human rights program lasted 6 days, with events running from 10:00 to after 20:00: 6 coffee with human rights defenders sessions, 5 evening discussions, 6 special events, 5 human library sections, and 6 Lectorium events — a new format for which we created an open-air space near the “Zhovten” cinema. In total, 28 events involved 11 partner NGOs and institutions, 107 speakers and moderators, and 1,185 in-person visitors.
“This is my first time at Docudays UA. I was invited by the director of the human rights department, Anastasiia Bahalika, as a speaker, and I was very pleased that my work is noticed and valued. At the discussion we covered the protection of both military and civilian rights — an extremely important topic in our society. The more we talk about it, the more international partners learn about us. This event and the festival as a platform are valuable to me because here they want to hear real opinions about what is happening on the ground, so to speak, in the field rather than in offices.”
Nataliya Lishchyshena, military lawyer, veteran, human rights defender
Ukraine War Archive screening. Photo: Valeriya Landar
At the 23rd Docudays UA, the Ukraine War Archive team presented the non-competitive program UKRAINE WAR ARCHIVE: FRAGMENTS OF RESISTANCE, featuring 9 films created by military units such as Omega, the 39th Separate Marine Brigade, the “Hroza” battalion, the 4th battalion “Syla Svobody” of the “Rubizh” brigade, the 36th Separate Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Navy, the “Bureviy” brigade of the National Guard, and the “Cultural Forces” collective. The program included 6 screenings and 2 discussions with RIGHTS NOW!, attended by over 500 visitors. Festival guests attended the presentation of the Missing People tool, developed by the Ukraine War Archive team to enable efficient searches for missing persons by cross-referencing data from open sources with information provided by civil society organizations and authorized state bodies. At a second event, they discussed how collected, preserved, and verified archival materials can contribute to future justice processes. A special event by the Ukraine War Archive team was the premiere of the film Witnesses. Place of Birth, followed by a discussion on the experience of childbirth during wartime.
“By addressing the themes of resistance to Russian aggression, the festival makes an enormous — truly immense — contribution to the struggle for human rights. I’m a big fan of Docudays UA. I’ve been attending the festival since 2014, back when I hadn’t even considered becoming a director. You could even say that Docudays UA is one of my teachers, because the best films I’ve seen in my life were here.”
Volodymyr Sydko, director and screenwriter, author of the War Mechanics film.
Documentary performance Radio Live. Photo: Hanna Putylina
This year, the interdisciplinary arts programme focused on practices of sensitivity, rethinking, and solidarity. DOCU/SYNTHESIS events included two moving image selections, Her Lens (ranging from films and video art to animation) with a feminist perspective by Ukrainian and British authors, thematic discussions, and the Ukrainian premiere of the documentary performance Radio Live, which gathers voices from around the world to reflect on the experience of war. Screenings and the discussion programme were attended by around 200 viewers. The performance, held at the Left Bank Theatre, gathered a total of 160 audience members over two days.
“For me, Docudays UA is a celebration of documentary cinema. I’ve been coming here for a very long time, each time in a different role. I’ve made awards in the past, we screened a film here at the previous festival with Natalkа Diachenko, and I’ve also been attending as a viewer since 2012, back when everything took place at the House of Cinema. I don’t see films like these in such concentration anywhere else. It’s truly an opportunity to see the world through someone else’s eyes, through a new lens, through a different focus.”
Zhanna Kadyrova, artist
DOCU/CLUB Network conference. Photo: Oles Minov
On the eve of the festival’s opening, the DOCU/CLUB Network team, with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, held a briefing for educators titled Documentary Film in Education: New Opportunities for Schools and Universities, dedicated to integrating documentary cinema into the modern educational process. This was followed by a conference attended by 41 moderators of Docudays UA film clubs from across Ukraine.
Within the DOCU/CLASS workshop, we held 5 panel discussions on topics relevant to the Ukrainian film community. The events brought together 22 speakers — experienced film professionals, curators, and cultural managers — and 145 attendees.
“At the same time, Docudays UA is an important space of representation for international and Ukrainian, as well as emerging filmmakers, producers, and film professionals. It’s an opportunity to reflect on a range of extremely important issues and to step, even briefly, outside the mode of survival. Our everyday reality is quite challenging now, and so thinking together about deeper and more complex things like ‘simple structures’ becomes a powerful source of support.”
Anastasiya Platonova, cultural critic and editor
DOCU/PRO consultation. Photo: Yevheniy Zavhorodniy
In total, 178 film professionals received DOCU/PRO industry accreditation this year. They took part in 14 events, including masterclasses on co-production, project financial management, working on grant applications, organising promotional campaigns, working with protagonists in documentary filmmaking, and much more, led by both international and Ukrainian professionals. Altogether, DOCU/PRO events — both online and offline — were attended by 493 people. This year also marked the third edition of the RAW DOC programme, designed for filmmakers working on projects who want to present rough cuts to international industry experts and receive professional feedback. During closed screenings, participants had the opportunity to connect with potential partners, including representatives of European public broadcasters, sales agents, and festivals.
“I was recently at the Cannes Film Festival, and compared to it, Docudays UA feels like something very intimate and family-like — a place where you are expected, where every person truly matters, every viewer counts. Here at Docudays, I feel that I learn more about the world and about myself.”
Anna Brovarna, film student and director
Continuing to develop the DOCU/CAMP project, this year we organised a workshop for teenagers curated by director and jury member of the DOCU/SHORT and DOCU/UKRAINE competitions, Olha Zhurba. The programme included 13 sessions: lectures on the history, theory, and ethics of documentary cinema, practical assignments, screenings of films from this year’s programme, and masterclasses by directors and cinematographers. 15 participants took part in the workshop and, over the course of 7 days, created a collective film titled Interview as a Way to Learn to Listen and Develop Empathy.
Festival awards. Photo: Serhiy Khandusenko
At the awards ceremony, we presented 5 main prizes and 5 special mentions, as well as the Andriy Matrosov Award — named after the festival’s first producer and established in 2010 in memory of a friend and comrade-in-arms — the Student Jury Award, the Audience Award, and, for the first time, the Viktor Onysko Memorial Award for Best Editing in a Ukrainian film. This year’s partner, the leading European public broadcaster ARTE, provided financial support for 4 awards and, together with the festival, launched a prize for young producers. For the second time, we also presented 4 partner awards to RAW DOC showcase projects within the DOCU/PRO platform.
The festival photo team — Serhiy Khandusenko, Valeriya Landar, Oles Minov, Andriy Tsykota, Yevhen Kotenko, Anastasiya Mantach, Hanna Putylina, Yevheniy Zavhorodniy, and Katia Akvarelna — produced 10,739 photographs. The festival’s And our Flickr with all the photos taken was viewed 529,172 times over the short span of the festival!
Festival atmosphere. Photo: Valeriya Landar
At the 23rd Docudays UA, we presented 82 films from 36 countries and 4 continents — from Ecuador to Cabo Verde. The programme included 33 Ukrainian films: 12 national premieres and 8 world premieres. On the DOCUSPACE online cinema platform, we screened 20 films — our online selection was viewed 707 times, with 13 online releases featuring descriptive subtitles and audio description for people with hearing and visual impairments.
“When chestnut trees are in bloom and when Docudays UA is on — those are the two times of the year when, in my opinion, leaving Kyiv is pure madness. For the second year in a row, I’ve gladly accepted the festival’s invitation to experience a film with audio description. Essentially, it’s like listening to a film: you put on a mask, switch on a special mobile app that syncs with what’s on screen, and the film unfolds in your imagination. The imagination really has to work, so it’s not the kind of experience where you go with popcorn just to relax. Working with imagination is something I really love.”
Anna Yabluchna, editor-in-chief of Ukraїner
Festival screening. Photo: Anastasiya Mantach
Together with our partners at the 03:00 Foundation, we engaged 15 opinion leaders to promote accessible cinema at the festival. More than 250 people took part in our experiment by watching a film with their eyes closed, sharing their experiences and raising awareness about the importance of accessibility in cinema. Through the ambassadors’ pages, we reached nearly 200,000 people who now know that accessible formats are simply another way of experiencing film, helping us normalise this practice at cultural events. In addition, we continued to provide sign language interpretation for discussions and offered the Come with Me assistance option, enabling people with visual impairments to reach and navigate the festival venues comfortably.
“I’m very grateful to Docudays UA for making it possible for people with visual impairments to be part of cinema and the festival. It’s not just a niche experience for sighted audiences — it includes everyone, and that’s amazing.”
Kseniya Shvets, stand-up comedian and guide at the 03:00 Museum in the Dark
We conducted an audience survey with 363 respondents: 97.8% expressed interest in attending documentary screenings about human rights again, and 98.1% said they felt safe at the festival.
“But considering the specifics of how the festival is organised, the way it is approached, and the care given to people and to human rights, it's… I think if I had learned about it without being involved in cinema, I would still have taken part. Thanks to Docudays UA, I communicate with people, hear different opinions. It broadens your worldview and your ability to express yourself. For me, communication is the best part of the festival.”
Yuliya Danylchuk, cinematographer
We are grateful to the Defence Forces of Ukraine for making it possible to continue the festival during wartime. The final calculations for the 23rd Docudays UA are still ongoing, but we are very pleased to conclude this list of simple structures with the news that together we raised 351,225 UAH for a joint initiative with the Hurkit and Svoi foundations. These funds will soon be used for evacuation transport and medical treatment for the wounded. A detailed report from the Hurkit Charity Foundation will be published later on our website and social media.
The 23rd Docudays UA team. Photo: Valeriya Landar
After a short break, we will begin planning the 23rd Travelling Docudays UA and the 24th Docudays UA in 2027. Meanwhile, for fans of human rights documentary cinema, the spirit of the festival will continue throughout the year in the form of podcasts on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Having recorded a series of conversations with the Docudays UA team and festival friends at iconic cultural locations in Kyiv, we invite you to stay tuned for new episodes and keep in touch!
Comments were collected and recorded by Marfa Bihdash, Sofiia Shelest, Veronika Tatarova, Hanna Aksyonova, and Kseniia Opria.
The 23rd Docudays UA took place with financial support from the European Union, the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, and the State Film Agency of Ukraine. The views, conclusions, and recommendations expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the governments of these countries. Responsibility for the content lies solely with the authors.
