Highlight Ukraine!
With the aim of supporting the Ukrainian community and celebrating the art made in the country, BEAST IFF dedicates a special programme to Ukraine. Highlight Ukraine! features a selection of films by emerging filmmakers, plus a conversation that will discuss the impact of the Russian invasion on Ukrainian creative industries.
The programme kicks off with the screening of “Stop Zemlia”, an ambitious coming-of-age film by Kateryna Gornostai, the Ukrainian director’s first feature film. World premiered and awarded at the Berlinale, the film is played by young non-professionals and immerses us in the problematic world of growing, bringing out the fragilities of a group of teenagers. Highlight Ukraine! also presents a unique selection from the Kyiv International Short Film Festival, with the screening of five short films that have marked the last editions of the festival. With a selection that highlights recent works by emerging Ukrainian directors, BEAST takes the position of promoting and celebrating art made in Ukraine, a way to convey support and hope to the entire Ukrainian population and community. Donations can be made: www.hospitallers.life
This special programme also motivates the conversation “Ukraine and Expressions of Freedom”, which intends to reflect on how the Russian invasion is affecting Ukraine’s creative industries, as well as analyse resistance and activism among Ukrainian and international artists. The debate will be attended by Olga Gusiatynska (Programme Coordinator, Kyiv International Short Film Festival) and Bohdan Zhuk (Programme Coordinator, Kyiv International Film Festival Molodist) and Kateryna Gornostai (Ukrainian filmmaker).
