Documentation of Re-Existence: Ukrainian Feminist Films

Join us for exclusive screenings of Ukrainian films curated by Filma, a Feminist Film Festival founded in 2021 by an inspiring feminist collective initiative in Ukraine. The festival provides a collaborative platform that offers free online access to films from around the world. Each year, the selected films meet the principles of intersectional feminism, anti-racism, anti-colonialism, inclusion, and a culture of consent. The films focus on topics that the organizers deem crucial to the Ukrainian context, such as labor rights, reproductive labor, migration in the context of armed conflict, racism, housing rights, trauma, and trans experiences, with an emphasis on amplifying marginalized voices.

Our event will showcase six Ukrainian shorts from the Filma program (2021–2024). This 77-minute selection of Ukrainian feminist cinema delves into themes of gender, memory, political activism, displacement, war, and ecofeminism. The screening will be accompanied by a brief introduction and discussion with Hanna Deikun (UIC) and Julia Kolesnyk. 

This screening and fundraiser will support two Ukrainian grassroots initiatives:

1. Freefilmers – An artist collective, cinematic movement, and NGO from Mariupol, Ukraine that supports vulnerable and marginalized displaced groups while promoting independent filmmaking and grassroots political arts initiatives. 

2. Woman for Woman – A non-profit platform assisting women in Ukraine with basic needs, financial support, employment opportunities, and storytelling visibility.

“We call ourselves Filma because cinema can be a co-creative process, offering equal opportunities for all participants, rather than the strict, top-down hierarchies often favored by privileged directors. We call ourselves Filma because cinema can be less pro-government and more politically conscious, less predatory, and more sensitive to both humans and non-humans. We call ourselves Filma because cinema can move away from red carpets and celebrity culture, embracing inclusivity and social responsibility. We call ourselves Filma because it is crucial to reflect on the possibilities and responsibilities of cinema, collectively and for the long run.”

List of the films: 

Svitlana Shymko, Galina Yarmanova, Wonderful Years, 9min, 2018  

Zoya Laktionova, Remember the Smell of Mariupol, 4min, 2022  

Sashko Protyah, My favorite Job, 30min, 2022  

Darya Tsymbalyuk, Botanical Documentation of Existence, 6min, 2023  

Karolina Uskakovych, Boots on the Ground, Hands in the Soil, 16min, 2023  

Teta Tsybulnyk, Elias Parvulesco, Svitlana Pototska, Zong, 10, 2020