Silent War: Ukrainian Short Film Competing for International Award
At the 54th Kyiv International Film Festival «Molodist», Ukrainian director Oleksii Chubun will present his short film titled «Brama Europy».
This poignant and intimate story explores the inner turmoil faced by individuals impacted by war — told through changes in human roles and silent suffering.
The film focuses on a 20-year-old girl who, after losing her mother during the conflict, attempts to save her younger brother by evacuating him abroad, seeking a safer future amidst chaos.
«War in this film is not on the screen, but within — in silence, in transformed roles of people affected by the conflict,» says Chubun.
He explains that his new work continues themes of memory, migration, and the division between past and future, initiated in his previous film «Domoi».
This cinematic reflection observes human fates amid an invisible war — a war that persists beyond sight, hiding behind silence and change.
The «Molodist» festival runs from October 25 to November 2 in Kyiv.
The winner of the Grand Prix for best film will receive $5,000, with other category winners earning $2,000 each.
All laureates will be awarded the festival’s traditional «Scythian Deer».
Director Chubun, residing abroad since 2014, continues to craft stories linked to Ukraine’s wartime experience and loss.
His films serve as a window into emotional resilience and human endurance amid ongoing conflict, and his latest piece promises to contribute compellingly to this narrative.