Ukrainian Documentary “She” Earns Top Prize at Women and the World Film Festival
The Ukrainian short film “She” about female defenders and combat medics won the Best Short Film award at the Women and the World International Film Festival in London.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Live.Pravda.
The international short film festival “Women and the World,” founded by Ukrainians Ksenia Bugrimova and Maria Vinogradova, took place in London from November 6 to 12. This year's theme of the festival highlights the important role of women in peace, security, and defense, and the films shown stimulate discussions about gender equality and social stability.
The Ukrainian short film “She,” created as part of the “VARTA” project by producer Mariana Shafro and director Yevgen Matvienko, tells the story of Ukrainian female defenders and combat medics who defend their country's freedom every day. The film premiered in October at London's Tate Modern, and in November it received the festival's top award.
The premiere of this fourth documentary film took place at the Tate Modern in London on October 24. The screening was part of a series of events where viewers could meet Ukrainian directors and some of the military heroes, and the evening ended with a charity auction in support of Ukrainian defenders.
The VARTA project, launched in 2022, consists of four short poetic documentary novellas that show the lives of Ukrainian soldiers not through the events of war, but through the personal stories of those who are experiencing it. Previously, the films focused on pilots, tankers, and fighter crews, while the new part, “She,” highlights the heroism of women on the front lines.
The goal of the project is to preserve the memories and portraits of Ukrainian defenders while they are still alive, to give them a voice and to show the war through human stories, not just military events. Mariana Shafro and Yevhen Matvienko seek to transform the pain of war into strength and inspire the audience to support Ukrainian heroes.
“The war in Ukraine has brought a lot of pain to everyone. But in order for this pain not to consume us, we must transform it into strength and take action. That is how the VARTA project was born for me,” said project producer Shafro. “I feel that this is my contribution — to immortalize our defenders in the chronicles of Ukraine's new history.”
Among the heroes of the film are medics from the Third Army Corps Sofia Yanchevska, Khristina Mivina, Rebeka Makiarovska, fallen medic from the Third Assault Corps Valya Valkyriya, and fighters from other units.
In addition to “She,” the festival also screened Ukrainian films: Sanatorium, a story about life in an old Odessa sanatorium; Queens of Joy, a documentary about drag queens who support Ukraine through art; and Dad's Lullaby, the story of veteran Serhiy, who is experiencing emotional difficulties due to the war.
Earlier this month, a powerful new documentary, Second Wind, has been screened in Washington, D.C., telling the story of Ukrainian veterans who, despite life-changing injuries, climbed Africa’s highest mountain to demonstrate courage, resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of their nation.
As The Gaze previously reported, the Ukrainian short film “Soldier” directed by Danylo Dedkov has won the award for Best Short Film at the 3rd International Ukrainian Film Festival PTAKH in the United Kingdom