Ukrainian Resistance at LIFF 2024
In a powerful collaboration to celebrate Ukrainian cinema and resistance, we present three features and six short films that capture the spirit and creativity of Ukraine with the financial support of the UK/UA Creative Partnerships programme British Council and the Ukrainian Institute.
Alexander Dovzhenko’s Earth, showing on Sun 10 November, is a visually stunning masterpiece of the silent era, regarded for its poetic homage to Ukraine’s rural landscapes and the cycle of life. Originally created as a Soviet propaganda piece on agricultural collectivization, the film transcends its origins, evolving into a timeless meditation on nature. In this special screening, Ukrainian musicians Misha Kalinin and Roksana Smirnova will perform an original jazz-based score live, blending impressionistic soundscapes and improvisations that perfectly enhance Dovzhenko’s sweeping landscapes and iconic close-ups.
In Ukraine, Displaced, a program of short films thoughtfully explores the emotional journey of Ukrainians uprooted by the devastation of war. The films include stories of children adjusting to new lives in a former German military barracks and of a young woman returning to Kyiv to see her family. Each short in this poignant series illuminates the struggles of starting anew in foreign environments while maintaining the connections to home, offering audiences a tender, human perspective on the experiences of displacement. Ukraine, Displaced screens on Tues 12 Nov as part of the LIFF Shorts section of the festival.
On Wednesday 6 and Friday 8 November, we present the UK premiere of Roman Bondarchuk’s The Editorial Office. The Editorial Office provides a unique, satirical take on post-truth politics in Ukraine, set just before the Russian invasion. This inventive drama follows Yura, a young biologist who attempts to report an arson in his hometown, only to find his quest for justice thwarted by a world of fake news, electoral fraud, and cryptocurrency schemes. With war looming on the horizon, the film becomes a rugged tapestry of social themes, highlighting the complexities of a society on the brink of conflict. Bondarchuk’s biting satire will be accompanied by a special Q&A session on Wednesday 6 Nov with the director, producer Dar'ya Averchenko and writer Alla Tyutyunnik, offering insights into the film’s vision and the circumstances surrounding its creation.
U Are the Universe by Pavlo Ostrikov is a poignant sci-fi comedy about Andriy, a space trucker who believes he’s the last person alive after Earth’s explosion. As he transports nuclear waste across space, Andriy’s only company is a joking robot named Maxim, until he unexpectedly connects with a French woman named Catherine. Written and filmed in Ukraine amidst the ongoing invasion, this film captures both humour and heartbreak in a tale of cosmic isolation. Ostrikov’s debut feature has been praised as “a heartfelt tale delivered as a charming and oddly upbeat science fiction comedy” and after having its UK premiere as part of Sci-fi day at LIFF 2024, will be screened again on Thursday 7 and Friday 15 of November.
Leeds International Film Festival is proud to collaborate with the British Council and Ukrainian Institute in bringing these powerful stories to new audiences, celebrating the resilience and cultural strength of Ukraine.
