With war still raging in Ukraine, the country’s artistry is even more of a wonder to behold.
Starting this week on October 15 and running through October 31, the Ukranian Cultural Festival returns to New York for its second year, with six features and 15 shorts co-presented by Razom for Ukraineand the Ukrainian Institute, Kyiv and produced in partnership with Kyiv International Shorts Film Festival (KISFF) and Linoleum Animation Festival.
In a statement the head of Razom Cinema, Polina Buchak said, “The goal of our festival is to bring together American audiences and the Ukrainian community for a meaningful cultural exchange. It’s a space where we confront complex histories, challenge stereotypes, and discover shared values. Most importantly, this festival is a testament to the fact that Ukrainian culture existed, exists, and will exist — despite Russia’s centuries-old attempts at destroying its traces and its future.”
The festival’s screenings commence with a showing of “‘Slovo’ House. Unfinished Novel,” from director Taras Tomenko. The drama is set in the 1920s and follows a group of Ukrainian artists working together in the Slovo cooperative house located in Kharviv amidst one of the largest genocides of the 20th century. Another highlight includes the winner of Sundance’s 2024 US Grand Jury Prize for Documentary, “Porcelain War.” In our review of the film out of Sundance, IndieWire wrote, “Featuring footage filmed on the ground by co-director Slava Leontyev, a Ukrainian artist and former soldier of the Ukrainian Special Forces, “Porcelain War,” which was co-directed by Brendan Bellomo, seeks to present the power of artists standing up against the violence of war through their work.”
Also being screened is “La Palisiada,” Ukraine’s 2025 Narrative Feature submission to the Academy Awards. The film is set in 1996, five months before Ukraine put a moratorium on the death penalty, and studies a detective and forensic psychiatrist as they investigate the murder of their colleague.
A Q&A with the talent behind the films will be conducted after each screenings, which will take place at Quad Cinema and Regal Union Square, both in Manhattan. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
