This time, the spotlight was on Tales of a Toy Horse by Ulyana Osovska and Denys Strashnyi. The film tells the story of Anatoliy Liutiuk, an artist and volunteer who helps people living near the frontline zone.

The event featured not only the film screening, but also a methodological workshop on using documentary films to shape values of modern students.

A highlight of the event was the participation of the film’s director, Denys Strashnyi. His presence allowed educators to learn more about the film’s creation and understand profound meanings the director intended to convey.

Olha Babchuk, communications manager of the DOCU/CLUB Network, moderated the event. She focused the discussion on the practical application of this film in the academic setting:

• Range of topics: the participants explored how to use the story of the Toy Horse to discuss volunteering, ethical choices, patriotism, and the role of art in times of war with students.

• Methodological tools: the professors received specific recommendations on preparation for discussions, including algorithms for interactive exercises and techniques for audience engagement.

Denys Strashnyi shared his personal observations on different audiences’ reactions to the film and offered advice to educators. “Documentary film is not a textbook that lays everything out on a plate. It creates space to draw one’s own conclusions. It is important to give students an opportunity to connect with protagonists and reflect on their actions without imposing ready-made answers,” the director noted.

This is the third event within the framework of the Ministry of Education and Science’s strategic initiative, confirming that documentary films are becoming officially recognized tools within the higher education system. This cooperation allows for integration of documentaries into courses in cultural studies, sociology, psychology, political science, and other disciplines, making education open and up-to-date.

The project is implemented with the support of the DOCU/CLUB Network, funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine and Fondation de France.

The opinions, conclusions or recommendations are those of the authors and compilers of this publication and do not necessarily reflect the views of the governments or charitable organizations of these countries. The authors and compilers are solely responsible for the content of this publication.

Title photo: courtesy of the NGO Docudays’ archive.