Catalogue of the Ukrainian Documentary

Annually, Docudays UA compiles a catalogue of Ukrainian documentary films, production companies, studios, film festivals, and documentary film distributors.

Today we begin accepting project applications for the third edition.

The catalogue will include films and film projects released in 2016-2018 as well as works that are now at the stage of development and production. It is important that Ukraine is indicated as the country of production (main or as in co-production). To submit your film, you need to download an application form, fill it in, and send it along with additional information to the address indicated in the application form.

We also invite independent production companies, producers, film and television studios that produce documentary films, post-production studios, film festivals and distributors of non-fiction films in Ukraine to submit information about them. For submission, you need to download an application form, fill it in, and send it to the address indicated in the application form.

What films and projects are we looking for?

The catalogue will include films and projects of creative documentary. We are interested in works in which authors creatively manipulate forms, experiment, yet easily communicate with the viewer and convey an important social message. We do not limit film duration and include both short and full-length works into the catalogue.

Creative documentary

Docudays UA has always focused on creative documentary films. We are always interested in personal opinion of the author. A documentarian is an artist, not a journalist. A journalist aims to present reality as objectively as possible, an artist seeks to express their own idea. The laws of journalism are not the same as the laws of documentary. Non-fiction films have other quality criteria.

Content

Each good documentary is up to date, reflects on and analyzes changes in society, events on both local and world scale. However, we do not expect an eye-witness report, since the artist is the one who holds a mirror in which our world reflects.

Form

In a good documentary its form is no less important than content. Docudays UA is primarily interested in movies with felt author’s presence. It does not matter whether the film is edited with newsreel shots, shot on a mobile phone or high-tech RED camera. Every year the festival discovers new names of young and talented Ukrainian documentarians. At the Docudays UA 2016, director Yuriy Hrytsyna was recognized for innovation in the film “Varta 1, Lviv, Ukraine.” In 2017, the main prize of the National Competition programme was given to Anastasia Maksymchuk for the film “Refuge.”

Communication

A good documentary addresses us. Documentary films make the viewer think, ask questions, discuss.

Balance

Docudays UA shows not only popular films. At the same time, we do not focus solely on socially important films. We are striving to achieve balance of content, form, communication, and this is what warrants a successful festival. With the same criteria we will approach the choice of films and projects for the third edition of the Catalogue of the Ukrainian Documentary.

Deadline

Deadline for applications is July 28, 2017 (23:59 Eastern European Time).

Then all the application forms will be considered by the Selection Committee of the festival.

On August 8, 2017, all applicants will be informed of the selection results.

The catalogue is issued with the support of the Ukrainian State Film Agency and Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine.