The Ukrainian documentary project Crossing Oxus will take part in the Cannes Docs 2026 programme within the Spotlighted Projects section of the Cannes International Film Market (Marché du Film).
According to a press release, Crossing Oxus is a documentary story about memory, the legacy of the Soviet past, and the complex process of personal acceptance of history. At the centre of the film is Ukrainian director Maryna, who meets the last Soviet soldier to leave Afghanistan, a man who has preserved a unique personal archive of letters and 8 mm film reels. As she delves into his memories of the troop withdrawal, gradual disillusionment, and silence after returning home, the characters begin to build a fragile connection that allows them to reconsider the traumatic legacy of the past. This was reported by NV.ua.
The project will be presented at the film market by director Svitlana Lishchynska (A Little Alien) and producer Olha Hibelinda (Queens of Joy, Cities and Their Heroes). The film is being developed as an international co-production between Ukraine, Sweden, and Belgium.
The project is currently at an early stage of production.
“I have long been interested in the transition from the Soviet totalitarian past to a mature democracy — a process that is still ongoing in our society and remains filled with trauma and contradictions. I have been working on this project for over two years, and it is important for me to go through this journey without rushing, immersing myself deeply in the material. Being selected for Cannes Docs is a great joy and a sign that this story may be important not only for Ukraine but also for other post-totalitarian societies,” said director Svitlana Lishchynska.
The Cannes Docs programme is part of the Marché du Film, the professional industry section of the Cannes Film Festival dedicated to the development of documentary cinema. In 2026, the Marché du Film will run from 12 to 20 May, while the festival itself will take place from 12 to 23 May.
Tags: Cannes 2026 documentary cinema film industry global cinema Ukraine film Ukrainian culture war memory
