First Ukrainian Film Festival in Los Angeles to Bring Together 12 Documentaries About the Nation’s Resilience

The Ukrainian Cultural Center(UCC) of Los Angeles will host the first-ever Ukrainian documentary film festival, Cinema of Resilience. The three-day cultural event will bring together audiences, artists, and filmmakers to tell the world about the resilience of the Ukrainian spirit.

This was reported by the press service of the Ukrainian Culture Center (UCC).

The event, organized in cooperation with the Ukrainian Arts Center, UNWLA – Branch 111 in Los Angeles, and a number of partner organizations, starts on November 21 and will last for three days – until November 23. The program includes 12 documentaries with English subtitles that demonstrate the resilience of Ukrainians in difficult times. After many screenings, viewers will have the opportunity to chat with the filmmakers in a Q&A format.

“The festival will introduce viewers to the human stories of Ukraine’s struggle, honoring the courage, resilience, and creativity of people going through incredible trials. A collection of award-winning documentaries will showcase how ordinary Ukrainians face danger, persevere, and maintain hope, opening a window into their lives, culture, and the indomitable spirit of their nation,” the UCC said.

As Ukraine’s Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna stated the idea for the festival originated with Liuba Keske — former Vice President of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, President of the Ukrainian National Association in Los Angeles, and a member of the UNWLA — who has long supported Ukrainian cultural initiatives. During a meeting at the Ukrainian Art Center, she proposed creating an event that would demonstrate the strength of Ukrainians through the art of cinema. The idea was picked up by community members, including Ukrainian Art Center President Daria Chaikovsky, Ukrainian journalist and documentary filmmaker Anastasia Bazdyryeva, and UNWLA Chapter 111 President and UNWLA Vice President Natalia Rylchyk and Localization Manager, UNWLA Branch 111 member Valentyna Levytsky.

On the first day of the festival, three films will be shown: “A Century of Power: Inspiring Generations,” dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America; “Little Angel,” the personal story of Darya Chaikovsky, head of the Ukrainian Art Center, who fled the Soviet army as a child during World War II; and “Children on Fire.” The latter film will be personally presented by Oscar-nominated director Evgeny Afineevsky, who will hold an open discussion with the audience and talk about how he created a shocking chronicle of over 20,000 Ukrainian children forcibly deported from Ukraine to Russia.

The following days promise even more moving films, including: 

• “Mariupol. Survivors” – (Maria Mykhno, Anastasia Bazdyryeva) – women’s testimonies of life under Russian occupation, 
• “Freedom in Fire” – a sequel to the Oscar-nominated film “Winter on Fire” with the voice of Helen Mirren as the narrator, a film about the courage of Ukrainians in the long struggle for freedom.
• “Porcelain War” – the story of three artists who defend Ukraine not only with art, but also with weapons. Directors – Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontiev.
• “A Match in a Haystack” – a film by Joe Hill that explores human connections and survival in conditions of forced displacement.
• “Timestamp” by director Kateryna Gornostai shows the everyday life of teachers and students during the war (2025), 
• “Black Raven” (2023) by director George Wyhinny about the testimonies of eyewitnesses and survivors of the Holodomor genocide of 1932-33, committed by Stalin.
• “Ukrainian Dance Film” is an energetic celebration of the national dance traditions of Ukraine.
• “Music of Survival. The History of the Ukrainian Bandura Choir performed by Orest Sushko, which honors the musicians who preserved the cultural voice of Ukraine during decades of exile.
• The Rule of Two Walls,” directed by David Gutnik, explores the war in Ukraine through the eyes of artists who live and create amid Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The festival will conclude with a musical cover of a David Bowie song performed by Ukrainian singers, followed by a discussion with director Rupert Wainwright.