This has never happened at the OKO Film Festival in its five years of existence.
This year, the organizers of the OKO International Ethnographic Film Festival decided to experiment. Instead of traditional documentaries, which have always been the basis of our program sections, we made a decision to accept fiction and animated films for the competition and not to segregate them by genre or any other criteria. The main condition is ethnographic elements and the so-called "post-ethnography". This innovation promises to open new perspectives both for the Festival and for the audience. The jury members will certainly have a slightly more difficult task, but we are sure that they will appreciate the presented films and make a fair decision. We expect the same from the audience. We are sure that such diversity is not only a new experience, but also new horizons for conducting Ukrainian-Bulgarian cultural dialogue.
"Out of more than 100 submissions from Ukrainian and Bulgarian filmmakers, we selected 21 films for the national short competition program NASHE OKO: 5 fiction, 6 animated and 10 non-fiction shorts. I am sure that the selected films will create a bridge between the past and the present for the audience, because the program presents a variety of topics and stories, and even has an element of courtesy, such as a knightly animated ballad about dragons. But the main message of most of the short films in this section is to rethink the past and fight for the present, not only in the figurative sense, but also in the literal one," says the program director of the Festival, Denis Budanov Film festival programmer and director Serhii Zeinalov adds:
"We also focused on selecting films that reflect the search for self-identification. This issue is especially relevant in our time, when the world is facing numerous challenges, and for us, Ukrainians, personal losses and destruction have unfortunately become a part of everyday life. We were looking for films that not only reflect these profound experiences, but also offer new perspectives on self-awareness and identity. Composing this program, we wanted to create something special. So we are looking forward to seeing how the audience will react to our choice."
The following films were selected for NASHE OKO Short Film Competition Program:
1. And that’s for this Christmas / И това е за тази Коледа, 2024, dir. Peter Vulchev, Bulgaria – Fiction
While preparing the details for his own funeral, an elderly man realises that he will be celebrating Christmas alone. Unable to fall asleep, he decides to spend the holiday at the grave of his deceased wife.
2. Ballad of Ferris the Self-appointed Knight and Smokie the Fire Breathing Dragon / Балада за самозвания рицар Желязко и огнедишащия дракон Димчо, 2024, dir. Penko Gelev, Bulgaria – Animated
The village blacksmith Ferris decides to become a knight and thus change his fate. The encounter with Smokie the fire-breathing dragon will help him to make deep conclusions about his own life and the importance of friendship.
3. Blackthorn Blossom / Fleurs d'épine / Цвіте терен, 2023, dir. Olga Stuga, France, Ukraine – Non-Fiction
Between the present and the past, war and peace, Sashko and Galia navigate their stormy retirement together.
4. COMMA / Комма, dir. Sonia Leliukh, 2023, Germany, Ukraine – Animated
At a busy train station, a human with an ever-exploding head stumbles upon an old newspaper. his discovery opens a portal to a world of different stories, all intertwined by a shared theme: the war in Ukraine. Despite the war's impact, each story depicts people living normally, dancing, walking their dogs, and engaging in peaceful activities. Although their lives have been altered, they persist and strive to find meaning in a world where a missile attack can ruin your house daily.
5. Damore — About Love / Даморе — За любовта, 2023, dir. Nicola Zambelli, Bulgaria – Fiction
In the northern Bulgarian Balkan Mountains, a group of elderly women is waiting for the rain. The rain will come in the form of a young girl dressed in white. They will take care of her, as one cares for the youth of the past, until the awakening of the world.
6.! (Exclamation Mark) / ! (Знак оклику), 2023, dir. Orest Smilianets, Ukraine – Non-Fiction
An original short film made using NASA footage that explores important contemporary issues in an unpredictable way.
7. Giorgos Gounaropoulos from Sozopol / Йоргос Гунаропулос от Созопол, 2023, dir. Elisaveta Stantcheva, Bulgaria – Non-Fiction
Giorgos Gounaropoulos stands as one of the most significant Greek artists of his era. Hailing from the shores of the Black Sea in Sozopol, he departed from his father's home at the dawn of the 20th century, never to return. In her desire to delve into her own heritage, his great-granddaughter embarks on her first visit to the coastal town.
8. Heart Hug / Обіруч, 2023, dir. Rimma Gefen, Nika Zhukova, Israel – Animated
The film is based on a true story about the power of human connection and the beautiful bond between an elderly woman named Lilia and her faithful companion, Max, a big orange dog. The film is a story of love, loss, and resilience, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, the connections we create are our strengths.
9. Hut / Хатка, 2024, dir. Kate Tiuri, Ukraine – Non-Fiction
A frank confession of Ukrainian youth who turn to traditional songs, collect ancient symbols, and rediscover the spiritual culture of their people during the great war with russia.
10. Kalyna Malyna / Калина Малина, 2023, dir. Pauline Zapolska, Ukraine, Latvia – Animated
Two women, physically apart but emotionally connected, express their melancholy through a traditional Ukrainian song.
11. Mokosh / Мокош, 2023, dir. Anna Dudko, Ukrane – Animated
The Sun is breaking into pieces and hard times are coming. In the devastating chaos, Mother Nature gives birth to a new cycle of life.
12. Mother / Мама, 2023, dir. Mariia Felenko, Ukraine – Fiction
With the beginning of the war, Katya decided to leave her hometown and take her mother. But mother is getting her nails done.
13. My Dad is a Lightning Researcher / Мій тато — дослідник блискавок, 2023, dir. Iryna Shostak, Ukraine – Non-Fiction
It is a documentary film reflection, created as a part of the Indie Lab documentary film laboratory. A daughter attempts to decipher and memorize the "universe of her dad", a lightning researcher, whom, as it turned out after his death, she never fully got to know. Neither him nor his lasting legacy. This is her attempt to think about how long our memory lasts about the people who meant something to us, who did something and created something next to us.
14. Security Council Presidency / Голова Ради Безпеки ООН, 2024, dir. Kyrylo Naumko, Ukraine – Non-Fiction
July 8, 2024. Kyiv. "Okhmatdyt" Children's Hospital. The frozen black and white photographs are brought to life by the sounds of the street: the sweeping of broken glass, cries for water and air raid alerts. But what does the UN Security Council Presidency have to do with it?
15. The Soldier / Солдатик, 2023, dir. Danyl Dedkov, Ukraine – Fiction
The hero of the russian-Ukrainian war has a classic manifestation of post-traumatic syndrome. Uncontrolled emotional manifestations, isolation, hallucinations, no one wants to have anything to do with him. No one needs him: neither the state nor his relatives. The Soldier's case was of particular interest to a government official who suddenly arrived at the boarding house. After all, the boy's visions are not just hallucinations, they are omens and help to find out the fate of other missing soldiers.
16. Spirit, 2024, dir. Mariia Khomutina, Ukraine – Non-Fiction
The story tells about an equestrian rehabilitation center where military personnel come from the war. The soldiers find a connection with the horses and forget about the war for a short moment.
17. La Terreur, 2024, dir. Mykhal Talkovskyi, Ukraine – Fiction
A new member of the Cheka receives his first assignment, holding in his hands a warrant to evict a peasant from his hut. The young man, at nineteen years old, must dare to commit murder, and not just one.
18. Trace / Следа, 2022, dir. Asparuh Petrov, Bulgaria – Animated
А young writer dedicates his nights to hunting entangled phrases with his pen. The moment he is confronted with the pregnancy of his wife his world collapses. Lingering fears and painful memories overwhelm him and he needs to trace the missing piece.
19. Tutti, 2023, dir. Alla Savytska, Ukraine – Non-Fiction
They all are between 12 and 17. They all had a home..friends..childhood..music. Until 4 am on February 24, 2022. At that moment, everything crumbles in their lives. Except of music. The world-famous Kyiv children's choir "Shchedryk" is scattered around the world. The only opportunity to be together again is to gather to perform on the greatest stage of the world, Carnegie Hall.
20. WAR 24, 2023, dir. Tetіana Peresunko, Dmytro Shyshko, Ukraine – Non-Fiction
It is the authors’ reflection on human choices during the war, created as a part of the Indie Lab documentary film laboratory. The heroes travel from Kyiv to Kharkiv and from Kharkiv to Kryvyi Rih, where they will eventually have to choose what is more important during the war - escaping alone or staying together despite the danger and threat to life.
21. We Are Home / Ми вдома, 2024, dir. Roman Krasnoshchok, Anton Chistyakov, Great Britain, Ukraine – Non-Fiction.
As war ravages their homeland, Ukrainian children flee their homes out of fear. Across the country, young lives are uprooted and transformed overnight. But even amidst devastating loss, the children's resilience and optimism shine through. The voiceover monologue for the film was narrated by Stephen Fry.
The winner of the Jury Grand Prize in "national" short film competition will be announced at the closing ceremony of the Film Festival in Bulgarian and will receive a prize of 600 euros. Besides, in this section, professional experts will also award Jury Special Prizes for the best fiction, non-fiction, animated short films and ethnographic representation. All winners will also receive a diploma and a festival trophy “Cehlynka”.
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