The Docudays NGO announces an open call for Ukrainian women artists to participate in the selection of media art* for a thematic program. The selected works will be presented within the interdisciplinary arts program of the 23rd Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival (DOCU/SYNTHESIS). The project aims to amplify women’s voices in wartime and to offer a contemporary perspective through a feminist lens.
The 23rd Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival (hereinafter — the Festival) will take place in Kyiv from June 5 to June 12, 2026.
By submitting an application, you agree to the terms of these regulations. If you have any questions, please contact the organizers before submitting your application: [email protected]
Purpose of the open call
The open call is aimed at supporting and increasing the visibility of Ukrainian women artists working with media art*, as well as creating a platform for reflecting on current experiences and artistic practices that resonate with the present.
Who can apply
Women artists (individually or as a group) working with media art, engaging with feminist perspectives and themes.
Submitted works must have been created no earlier than 2024 and must not infringe on third-party copyrights.
Participation requirements
To apply, you must:
fill in >> the application form;
provide a link to the video work;
add a short description of the work in Ukrainian (up to 1000 characters);
provide a short biography of the author / group (CV) in Ukrainian.
Requirements for works:
format: media art*
duration: 5 to 40 minutes;
language: original, preferably with Ukrainian or English subtitles;
relevance to the stated theme.
*video art, animation (2D, 3D, or generative), digital films and essays, documented performances or media installations (in video format), net art in the form of video documentation or recordings of interaction, generative art, projects based on screen-recording format, etc.
Please note that preference will be given to works adapted for screen viewing without the need for audience interaction.
Selection and results
Works will be selected by the festival’s curatorial team.
The organizers reserve the right not to explain the reasons for selection or rejection.
Selected works (at least 4) will be included in a curated program and presented within the interdisciplinary arts program of Docudays UA.
Authors will be notified of the results by email.
What selected participants receive
screening of the work at the 23rd Docudays UA Festival (within the DOCU/SYNTHESIS interdisciplinary arts program);
curatorial support;
professional visibility in local and international contexts;
participation fee*
*from UAH 13,490 to UAH 16,200 (including all mandatory taxes and fees), depending on the final number of works selected. The amount is fixed per artist or group.
Rights and use of works
Authors retain copyright to their works. By submitting an application, authors grant the organizers the right to screen the work during the festival and its promotional activities, with proper attribution.
Open call timeline
Announcement of the open call: March 30, 2026
Application deadline: April 31, 2026
Notification of results: May 5, 2026
Festival / screenings: June 5–12, 2026 (screenings scheduled within this period)
Other
Ukrainian citizens residing both in Ukraine and abroad are invited to apply. The organizers reserve the right to make minor changes to these regulations in order to improve the selection process and program implementation.
This project is supported by the British Council’s grant program “UK→Ukraine: Culture Sync”
The 23rd Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival will take place in Kyiv from June 5 to June 12, 2026. The Festival is non-political and non-commercial. After the Festival, the Docudays NGO will present the best films across Ukrainian regions as part of the Traveling Festival, with screenings running from October through November.
The interdisciplinary arts program DOCU/SYNTHESIS explores cinema at the intersection of different disciplines, creating a space for critical reflection and interaction between documentary film, contemporary art, science, and technology, with a special focus on the local context. Initiated by the Docudays NGO in 2021, the program takes place annually during the Docudays UA festival.
