11 documentaries produced by Suspilne TV were featured at special screenings of the film clubs that are part of the NGO Docudays Network. For the second year now, viewers from various parts of Ukraine had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with crucial stories about Ukrainian culture, history, art, and peoples memory and experience.
Republished from suspilne.media.
In the course of the month, the viewers of the film clubs had the opportunity to watch and discuss the documentaries Dovzhenko. The Grand Compromise by Ihor Ivanko, Birds and Beasts. Gnizdovskyi’s Universe by Nadiia Parfan, Serge Lifar: The Artist’s Case by Maria Holovatska, Our Bread by Oleksandra Fogg, The Repressed Carol by Stanislava Doronchenko, Sheptytskyi. Between War and Faith by Nataliya Ponomariova, Isolyatsiya by Ihor Minayev, Shchedryk against the ‘Russian World’ by Oleksandr Nazarov, and the trilogy Ukrainian Peacekeepers by Korniy Hrytsiuk.
Each of these films offers a distinct topic for reflection and discussion. Through the stories of Oleksandr Dovzhenko, Serge Lifar, and other figures, viewers can reflect on the artist’s responsibility, creative freedom, and the price of compromise. Films about cultural heritage and historical memory highlight the formation of the Ukrainian identity and the importance of preservation of our personal stories. Meanwhile, the films about Ukrainian peacekeepers offer a glimpse into the experiences of Ukrainians serving in international missions.
Audience members at a documentary film screening
Viewers’ feedback shows how these documentaries have sparked personal reflections on family traditions, the country’s history, and the importance of preserving Ukrainian culture.
After watching Our Bread, Kateryna from the 8th grade wrote: “I liked that the film tells the story of Ukraine not the way we’re used to in class, but through ordinary bread. After watching it, I wanted to ask my relatives about our family traditions.”
The history of Ukrainian cinema and the life of Oleksandr Dovzhenko prompted viewers to reflect on how an individual’s life is intertwined with the country’s history: “The film presented the history of Ukraine through the life of an individual. It was interesting to learn more about Ukrainian cinema and the conditions of its development.”
Audience members at a documentary film screening
The responses to The Repressed Carol, which reveals painful chapters in the history of Ukrainian culture, were particularly emotional. One viewer wrote:
“The film really touched me. I discovered a lot of new things about the ‘Sixties Generation’ and what they had to go through. It’s very painful to realize how many talented people were persecuted for Ukrainian culture and for the freedom to be themselves. It’s especially striking that despite repression, fear, and persecution, Ukrainians preserved their traditions and passed them on to future generations. After watching this film, one comes to appreciate even more the value of our culture, language, songs, and memory. We must preserve what cost our ancestors so dearly.”
Audience members at a documentary film screening
Such reviews remind us that the power of documentary films lies not only in the stories they tell, but also in the questions they leave and the conversations they spark after screenings.
Special film screenings combine Suspilne TV's capabilities as a producer of documentary content with those of the Docudays UA Film Club Network, which helps these stories reach audiences in communities across the country.
Audience members at a documentary film screening
“For Suspilne, the cooperation with the Docudays UA Film Club Network is an example of a true synergy in partnership. On the one hand, our films live on after premieres, becoming catalysts for sincere, moderated dialogue. On the other hand, experienced moderators who understand their audiences' needs provide us with unique feedback. Live discussions reveal what viewership statistics alone can never capture: how exactly these stories resonate in viewers’ hearts and which topics are truly relevant for today’s society,” says Eva Zuryan, External Production and Co-Production Expert at Suspilne.
Lina Babych, Coordinator of the Docudays UA Film Clubs Network, emphasizes the importance of such collaboration: “Special screenings provide an opportunity to make Ukrainian documentary film more accessible and bring important stories to communities, as our Network comprises over 600 film clubs across Ukraine. It is important to us that documentary film serves as a starting point for dialogue about history, culture, human rights, societal challenges, and our shared future. Our partnership with Suspilne helps broaden the scope of these conversations and introduce Ukrainian documentary stories to new audiences.”
Viewers’ interest encourages us to continue the tradition of collaboration between Suspilne and the Docudays UA Network.
The development of the Docudays UA Network is funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, Fondation de France, and the Czech organization People in Need within the framework of the SOS Ukraine initiative.
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 the respective countries. The authors and compilers are solely responsible for the content of this publication.
