Docudays UA has announced the winners of its 23rd edition, with Green Light taking the top international prize and Ukrainian films earning multiple awards.
“Green Light” by Pavel Cuzuioc won the DOCU/WORLD competition.
Docudays UA has announced the winners of the 23rd International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival. Awards were presented in the DOCU/WORLD, DOCU/UKRAINE, DOCU/SHORTS, and RIGHTS NOW! competitions, as well as in special partner nominations, including one from European broadcaster ARTE.
The top prize of the international DOCU/WORLD competition went to Green Light by director Pavel Cuzuioc. The jury praised the film for its combination of form and content, as well as its exploration of euthanasia and mental health.
A special mention in the competition was awarded to Mailin by María Silvia Esteve, a film about violence against a woman committed by a priest. The jury highlighted the director’s distinctive vision and the devastating power of the ending, which encourages discussion of the issue.
In the DOCU/UKRAINE competition, the top award went to Don’t Ask Me If I Killed by director Olena Maksom. The film was recognized for its “radical authorial honesty” and its portrayal of the life of a female service member.
A special mention in the competition went to Where Everything Disappears by director Oleksandr Tkachenko. The film tells the story of cinematographer and serviceman Dmytro Dokunov and the impact of the war on his life.
In the DOCU/SHORTS competition, the top prize was awarded to Pedro Tomas Explains the World by director Kornelijus Stuchkus. The jury praised the film for its “ability to reveal a new perspective on the world through simple observations.”
A special mention went to the Ukrainian film Sequela by director Alla Mitiukova. The film follows a wounded soldier on his difficult journey to recovery and was recognized by the jury for its emotional power, honesty, and “attentive look at post-war adaptation.”
In the RIGHTS NOW! programme, the top prize went to The Promise by director Daan Veldhuizen. The jury praised the film for its “fresh and original cinematic storytelling,” which offers a profound look at complex social processes while remaining “remarkably humane and sharply political.”
A special mention in the competition was awarded to If Pigeons Turned to Gold by director Pepa Lubojacki. According to the jury, the film demonstrates that human rights cinema can be “not only important in content, but also bold in form,” thanks to its striking stylistic experimentation.
Other Docudays UA Awards
Best Emerging Ukrainian Feature Film Producer — Daria Zakharova for Illusion of a Quiet Night.
Young Short Film Producers Award — Oleksii Yeroshenko, Kateryna Yahodka, and Alla Mitiukova for Sequela.
Student Jury Grand Prize — Do You Love Me? by director Lana Daher.
Student Jury Special Mention — Nameless by director Zahraa Ghandour.
Hromadske Radio Special Award — Yuliia Orlenko for Omega.
Suspilne Broadcasting Award (Raw Doc Showcase) — Fly, Fish, Fly by directors Tetiana Hanzha and Zoia Volk.
Rough Cut Service Award and Special Award of the European Documentary Network — It Will Happen by director Anna Mihunova.
Kino42 Award — Listening to the World by director Yelyzaveta Smith.
Docudays UA is Ukraine’s largest international human rights documentary film festival. The project’s main mission is to promote documentary films on human rights from around the world, foster active civic engagement, and raise public awareness of human dignity and fundamental rights.
Tags: Docudays UA Documentary Films film festival Green Light Human Rights Cinema Ukraine culture Ukrainian cinema
