World Premiere and Performances: Kyiv Hosted the Grand Opening of “OKO”

The grand opening of the 6th OKO International Ethnographic Film Festival (IEFF) took place on September 5, 2025, at ArtPrychal in Kyiv. For the first time in its history, the festival began in the Ukrainian capital, uniting cinema, music, cultural diplomacy, and unique ethnographic traditions.

Opening Atmosphere

The evening opened with a Bessarabian-style reception featuring a glass of traditional wine and regional delicacies. Guests were greeted with vibrant performances by Bulgarian kukeri and Ukrainian Malanka — a symbolic cultural dialogue between the two traditions.

Artistic highlights included the presentation of the mural “The Filmstrip of Life” by the Feldman sisters, exhibitions by Ukrainian artist Lesia Babliak, Bulgarian photographer Ivan Shishiev, and the Ukraїner photographers. The event was hosted by ICTV2 television presenter Hryhorii Herman.

Official Ceremony

On the main stage, singer and entertainer Ivan Liulenov took the mic to welcome the crowd. The opening also brought inspiring words from special guests.

Festival President Viktor Kurtiev emphasized the role of culture in shaping the future:

“A shared cultural space can unite the entire country, taking into account its complex history and the regions where Ukrainians are not the ethnic majority — such as southern Bessarabia. This is a small but telling example: through it, we demonstrate a great ambition — to learn how to act on the conceptual level. Because it is precisely there that it is decided whether we will be destroyed, or whether we will be able to fight effectively and ultimately build the country of the future — the country of our dreams.”

Elena Slatinska-Ovanezova, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Ukraine, underlined:

“This year the festival will also take place in Bulgaria, in several cities. This will give us the chance to discover each other’s culture more deeply and to come closer together through the traditions of our shared heritage. After all, traditions are among the strongest forces that unite people.”

Ukraine’s Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language, Olena Ivanovska, noted:

“The culture of Ukraine is woven from many beautiful pieces. This mosaic must be safeguarded, just as the Armed Forces of Ukraine are protecting it today. It is symbolic that at the opening, we see both Ukrainian Malanka and Bulgarian kukeri. Despite their differences, they carry universal ideas — ancestral wisdom, resilience, and strength — which help us continue on this path and ultimately prevail.”

Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, Ihor Verner, added:

“Our mandate is not only to integrate national minorities but also to help every community preserve and develop its culture. Ukraine is a multiethnic state. It is symbolic that the festival opens with Tetiana Stanieva’s film ‘From Bloom to Flame’. War forces us to ask: how do we preserve the culture of each community, avoid cultural ghettos, and remember that our strength lies in unity — and unity in diversity.”

Mayor of Bolhrad Serhii Dymytriev highlighted:

“Cinema is not just an art form, but also a powerful tool that captures the spirit of the times. It bears witness to the brave struggle of the Ukrainian people. The ‘OKO’ Festival is especially important because it preserves local traditions while at the same time opening doors to world cultures.”

Actress and festival ambassador Anastasiia Tsymbalaru shared a personal message:

“Today is a special day for me, because for the first time I am on stage not as an actress, but as a person born in Bolhrad — a multicultural region where Ukrainians, Bulgarians, Moldovans, and Gagauz live side by side. We may be different, but we are united by our love for Ukraine. We are here to remind everyone that culture and art can survive even in the darkest times. War cannot erase our roots, our memory, or our art.”

Festival founder Tetiana Stanieva remarked:

“For me, the decision to hold ‘OKO’ in Kyiv was not an easy one. We originally envisioned the festival as a bridge between Bessarabia and the centre of Ukraine. But today, the road to Bessarabia is complicated. I agreed to hold the festival in the capital only as an ‘embassy of Bessarabia’ — our home, which we love and do not want to lose.”

Opening Film

The highlight of the evening was the world premiere of Tetiana Staneva’s documentary “From Bloom to Flame” — a deeply personal story about preserving the traditions of Bessarabian Bulgarians during wartime.

“Closest to my heart are the film’s protagonists — the residents of Krynychne, my native village, which I miss deeply. I sincerely hope that it will not remain only on screen, but that its culture will endure and have the chance to revive after the war,” said the director.

Cultural Program

Guests enjoyed Bessarabian cuisine and took part in a symbolic dance of unity — the Bulgarian horo. The evening’s musical program featured performances by the bands GulayGorod and the headliner of the event, LUIKU, who turned the night into a true celebration.

Charity

As part of the opening, a charity auction was held in support of the 88th Separate Marine Battalion, based in Bolhrad and formed mainly from representatives of Bessarabia’s ethnic communities. A total of 135,000 UAH was raised to purchase communications equipment and anti-drone capes.

The sponsor of the Bessarabian celebration and the opening ceremony was Viktor Kurtiev — president and chairman of the Supervisory Board of the “OKO” Film Festival, philanthropist, and energy expert. During the charity auction, he acquired two photographs from the exhibition: one from information partners Ukraїner, taken in the Halychyna village of Beleluia by photographer Artem Halkin, and the other — depicting a kuker, chosen as the face of the festival this year and featured on all “OKO” posters and programs, by Bulgarian photographer Ivan Shishiev. Kurtiev purchased both works for 100,000 UAH, which were also donated to support the 88th Marine Battalion.

Volunteers also raffled off the battalion’s flag signed by its soldiers, a shell tube from an 82mm mortar round from the Kherson frontline, and a limited-edition bottle of wine from Villa Tinta, specially designed for “OKO.”