DocuDays UA
The DocuDays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival is the only human rights film festival in Ukraine. The festival is held annually at Kyiv in March and admission is free to the general public. Each year, the festival has a different theme, and while not all movies shown adhere to that year's theme, all presented films are documentaries that focus on the subject of human rights. Founders DocuDays NGO Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union Public organization South Charitable organization Fund of Mercy and Health (Kherson city) Center for Contemporary Information Technologies and Visual Arts, NGO The program of the Festival, the jury, the topics of seminars and masterclasses, etc. are formed by the Executive Directorate. History Human Rights Film Days Festival The first Human Rights Film Days festival took place in 2003. Screenings were held in Lviv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Donetsk. The documentaries were divided into thematic blocks devoted to specific human rights aspects: human rights, refugee and migrant issues, children's and women's rights, etc. Additionally, such programs as Special Look and Feature Film were held alongside the festival. II Festival of Human Rights Documentary Film Days: Ukrainian Context The second festival took place in 2005 in Kyiv and had the additional title Ukrainian Context. This time, the program featured non-fiction films. Screenings took place in cinemas, clubs, art centers, schools, and universities. III Festival of Human Rights Documentary Film Days: Ukrainian Context In 2006, at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam (IDFA), Ukrainian Context was accepted into the International Human Rights Film Network (HRFN). Thus, Ukrainian Context was transformed into a platform where the best documentaries of Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries were presented. The festival lasted from May 21 to 26 in Kyiv. The first film to win the Grand Prix at the festival was The Children of Leningradsky by Polish directors Ganna Polak and Andrzej Celinski. IV International Festival of Human Rights Documentary Film Days Ukrainian Context The fourth festival traditionally took place in the Kyiv Cinema House and lasted from March 29 to April 6, 2007. The program included more than 100 films from 20 countries. The festival also hosted retrospective screenings and workshops of leading documentary experts. V International Festival DocuDays UA Human Rights Documentary Film Days In 2008, the festival acquired a new title - DocuDays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival. The screenings lasted from March 28 to April 4. Films from more than fifty countries were submitted to the festival, expanding the geography of the festival beyond the neighboring countries. The Audience Choice Award, chosen by secret audience ballot, was awarded to Chernobyl: The Invisible Thief by Bokel. For the first time, the opening ceremony is accompanied by a string orchestra, whereas the closing is held at the Ukrainian Center of Folk Culture - Ivan Honchar Museum. Films 17th DocuDays The following are selected films screened virtually at the 17th DocuDays in 2020: Don't Worry, the Doors Will Open (Oksana Karpovych) New Jerusalem (Yarema Malashchuk and Roman Himey) The