Ukrainian filmmaker Zhanna Ozirna won a Cannes award for Honeymoon, a wartime thriller set during Russia’s invasion.
Ukrainian filmmaker Zhanna Ozirna has won a major international prize at the 79th Cannes Film Festival for her debut feature Honeymoon — a wartime psychological thriller set during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ozirna received the newly created Build Your Dream Award, a Cannes-linked international prize established to support emerging filmmakers with globally impactful storytelling.
The award was presented by an international jury led by acclaimed Chinese director Chen Kaige and including Mélanie Laurent, Hafsia Herzi, Yann Demange, and French critic Thierry Chèze.
Only 15 debut international films released in French cinemas over the past year made the shortlist.
The prize was launched by BYD together with Mediawan and includes a €40,000 grant aimed at supporting the next generation of filmmakers.
Ozirna’s Honeymoon tells the story of newlyweds Taras and Olia, whose first night in a new apartment near Kyiv turns into a nightmare as Russian troops suddenly occupy the area during the opening days of the full-scale invasion.
Unable to escape, the couple becomes trapped inside their apartment without electricity, water, or communication. Over five days of isolation, war strips away everything except fear, truth, and emotional survival.
The film premiered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival before building momentum across the international festival circuit with screenings in 15 countries.
It has already collected multiple major awards, including the Grand Prix at the Molodist Kyiv International Film Festival, the Golden Atlas Jury Prize in Arras, France, and another Grand Prix at the Sofia Film Festival in 2025.
The Cannes recognition marks another breakthrough moment for Ukrainian cinema as war-era storytelling from Ukraine continues gaining international visibility and critical acclaim.
For global audiences, Honeymoon represents a new generation of Ukrainian films transforming frontline trauma into intimate, globally resonant storytelling.
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