Celebrating the cinema of Ukraine

The current invasion of Ukraine is a tragedy for both its people and their culture. To help support and celebrate Ukraine, where we can, here is just some of the amazing cinematic talent the country has to hold.

Man With a Movie Camera, 1929.

An experimental silent Soviet documentary, the film explores the everyday working life in the city of Odesa, Ukraine. Man With a Movie Camera is one of the most important films of all time that explores, at the beginning of cinema, what film can be. Directed by Dziga Vertov, a filmmaker way before his time, who experimented with film effects during the early days of cinema. 

Feathered Dreams, 2012.

A Ukrainian-Nigerian film which is one of the first Ukrainian films to be almost entirely shot in English, and shot on-location in the capital Kyiv. The film explores the lives of African students studying in Ukraine and the bridging of two very different countries and cultures together. 

Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom, 2015.

Evgeny Afineevsky’s documentary film depicts the Euromaidan protests in Ukraine, from November 2013 until February 2014. The film’s greatness is evident by its number of accolades, including nominations for both an Academy Award and an Emmy in the documentary category, and was awarded the People’s Choice Award for best documentary. 

Stanislav Kapralov 

Ukrainian director Stanislav is known for his work on Let It Snow (2020), a horror thriller and Egregor (2021). The director, in the middle of producing a new Hollywood film, was disrupted by the invasion of Ukraine and is unwilling to leave his homeland - as he believes this conflict is scripting a new story for Ukraine’s cinema. 

Maya Deren

Ukrainian born Maya was one of the most influential filmmakers who established the avant-garde film movement in the USA. She is known for her work on Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) and At Land (1944).

President Volodymyr Zelensky 

Before standing as one of the most powerful and influential men of the 21^st century as Ukraine’s President. Zelensky was a popular actor in Ukraine, known well for his light-hearted comedy, co-writing No Love in The City (2009), in which he starred as a dentist. The film is likened to a male version of Sex and the City. Zelensky has even played the role of the President of Ukraine in Servant of the People (2015), now being shown on Channel 4, which may have helped and inspired his future career. Did we also mention, he played Ukrainian Paddington?