Short film competition II
Ukrainian Film Festival Berlin 2024
* BOOTS ON THE GROUND, HANDS IN THE SOIL by Karolina Uskakovych | 16’
© uffb
* COMMA by Sonia Leliukh | 4’
* WHERE RUSSIA ENDS by Oleksiy Radynskyi | 25’
* AS IT WAS by Anastasiia Solonevych & Damian Kocur | 15’
* METROTRAM by Kateryna Yahodka | 9’
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* Boots on the Ground, Hands in the Soil / Чоботи в ґрунті, руки в землі
Just before the Russian invasion in 2022, Karolina’s grandmother Zoya, a proud Ukrainian pensioner, gifts her tomato seeds from her garden. As war rages on, they cultivate their gardens online, nurturing both plants and heartfelt conversations.
* Comma
At a busy train station, a person with an ever-exploding head finds an old newspaper that reveals intertwined stories about the war in Ukraine. Amid the chaos, people find joy in simple moments like dancing and walking their dogs. Using stop-motion animation with newspaper clippings, the film showcases the resilience of the human spirit.
* Where Russia Ends / Там, де закінчується Росія
In the late 1980s, Ukrainian filmmakers from Kyiv’s Science Film Studio embarked on expeditions to remote Siberia. Their forgotten reels, rediscovered in 2022 amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, sparked a film essay exploring Russian imperialism, environmental devastation, and the oppression of indigenous peoples.
* As It Was / Як це було
Lera has been living in Berlin for almost a year since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. One day she decides to go back to Kyiv. On her way, she finds out that her family is not in Kyiv and will arrive only the next day. She meets her friend Kyrylo, with whom she spends the day.
* Metro-Tram / Швидкісний
The main character of the story is the son of the good old subway and fast tram. This premature child lives in the city of Kryvyi Rih.
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For the first time, the festival will feature a short film competition. Two programs explore powerful human stories shaped by war, displacement, and loss, while also reflecting on identity and decolonial perspectives.
The jury, consisting of Mariette Rissenbeek, who has been the director of the Berlinale for many years, Robert Wunsch (D-Facto Motion), Roman Bodnarchuk (director of The Editorial Office), and Isabelle Stever (film director), will select the winner. The best film will be awarded with the “Post-Production Award” founded by D-Facto Motion.
Meanwhile, the out-of-competition program, "Don’t be a Square!" celebrates bold Ukrainian cinema, featuring everything from thrilling horror to surprising comedies and creative student films. Each program promises an emotional and unforgettable journey through the world of short films.