The 23rd Docudays UA launches its film programmes with DOCU/SHORTS: 13 films that confront the realities of emigration, the ties between humans and nature, the tensions between state and individual, and the enduring themes of memory, loss, and recovery. 

“A documentary short is, at its core, a testament to talent. It is never just a formal pass into the realm of feature‑length cinema, but rather the art of shaping a singular universe, the bravery to dive into difficult subjects, and the gift of conversing with the viewer through the most modest of means. The finest of such works linger in memory for a lifetime.

I am delighted that, in keeping with a fine tradition, the DOCU/SHORTS competition line‑up will find its audience among documentary lovers. Ukraine stands tall this year with three films by emerging talents: Alla Mitiukova, Zhora Papoian, and Mykola Nosok. We savour works from thirteen countries across the globe, while rooting for our own!,” says Gennady Kofman, a producer and board member of the NGO Docudays and the Selection Council. 

The DOCU/SHORT short film competition includes:

• A Happy Place, dir: Siddhant Sarin (India, Portugal, Belgium, Hungary);

• Pedro Tomás explains the world, dir: Kornelijus Stučkus (Spain);

• Freshman, dir: Michał Edelman, Tomasz Pawlik (Poland);

• Bloodline, dir: Wojciech Węglarz (Poland);

• Actually, I didn't want to stay long, dir: Andreas Grützner (Germany);

• Images from Tuvalu, dir: Dylan Werkman (The Netherlands);

• Air Horse One, dir: Lasse Linder (Switzerland, Belgium);

• Sequela, dir: Alla Mitiukova (Ukraine);

• talking to humans about the end of the world, dir: Millefiore Clarkes (Canada);

• Our Birthdays, dir: Angeline Teh (Belgium);

• A Normal Life, dir: Mykola Nosok (Ukraine);

• Like a Spiral, dir: Lamia Chraibi (Canada, France, Morocco);

• The Ferry Flows, dir: Zhora Papoian (Ukraine).

Main photo: a still from the film Pedro Tomás explains the world

The 23rd Docudays UA is held with the financial support of the European Union and the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine. The opinions, conclusions, or recommendations do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the governments of these countries. Responsibility for the content of the publication lies exclusively with the authors and editors of the publication.