Ukrainian “Molodist” Launches National Competition at Filmfest Hamburg in Germany

13 October 2024 | Source

For the third time, Filmfest Hamburg (Germany) hosted screenings of the Ukrainian "Molodist" program, presenting a new National Feature Competition. The event opened with Denys Tarasov’s debut film Diagnosis: Dissent, followed by Taras Dron’s The Glass House. The competition includes notable films such as The Editorial Office and Gray Bees, with the winner announced on October 4th.

The "Molodist" Kyiv International Film Festival brought its new National Feature Competition to FILMFEST HAMBURG this year, despite ongoing challenges from the war in Ukraine. This marks the third collaboration between FILMFEST HAMBURG and "Molodist", which highlights the resilience of Ukrainian cinema in the face of the conflict.

The program opened with the world premiere of Denys Tarasov’s debut feature Diagnosis: Dissent, which explores the legacy of punitive psychiatry in the former Soviet Union. Starring Kostyantyn Temlyak, Irma Vitovska, and Vitaliy Saliy, the film delves into a painful chapter of Eastern European history. During his speech, Tarasov honored Ukraine's Armed Forces, acknowledging their role in allowing art to thrive even in times of war. The screening coincided with Ukraine's Day of Defenders and Defenderesses, adding a poignant layer to the event.

Also presented on the first day was The Glass House, directed by Taras Dron and starring Iryna Ostrovska. This psychological drama, filmed on 35mm, examines the emotional weight of loss—a theme that has become increasingly relevant due to the war in Ukraine. Ostrovska shared that while the film was made before the full-scale invasion, its exploration of grief resonates deeply with many Ukrainians today.

The National Feature Competition also includes the following films:

"The Editorial Office" / Roman Bondarchuk / Ukraine
"Gray Bees" / Dmytro Moiseiev / Ukraine
"Stepne" / Maryna Vrada / Ukraine
"Oxygen Station" / Ivan Tymchenko / Ukraine

The winner will be awarded the "Scythian Deer" statuette, created by the jewelry company Kimberli, along with a $2,000 prize sponsored by the International Institute of Depth Psychology. The jury, composed of producer Natalia Libet, director and producer Anastasia Bukovska, and film expert Dennis Rukh, will select the winner.

The competition will close with Maria Stoyanova’s documentary Fragments of Ice. The announcement of the winner is scheduled for October 4th, marking the conclusion of this year's collaboration between FILMFEST HAMBURG and "Molodist".