Festival Docudays UA Announces Winners 12.06.2026 17:50 Ukrinform The international human rights documentary film festival Docudays UA has announced its 2026 winners.
As reported by Ukrinform, this information is available on the festival’s website.
The main prize in the DOCU/WORLD competition was awarded to the film
The film tells the story of a psychiatrist specializing in helping individuals who opt for euthanasia as a final means to end their suffering. He examines their medical history, listens to their life stories, and once convinced of their unwavering decision, guides them through the legal procedures and final stages of assisted dying.
In this way, the film opens a profound and sensitive conversation not only about an individual’s right to self-determination regarding their own life, body, and mind but also about society’s chronic lack of understanding of mental disorders and their often-underestimated impact on quality of life.
A special mention in Docu/World was given to the film
The film presents a striking and painful narrative that addresses an extremely acute issue and one of the most serious problems of modern society – violence against women. This is revealed through a unique authorial expression and a vivid example of contemporary creative documentary filmmaking.
The main prize in the Docu/Ukraine competition was won by the film
The jury unanimously concluded that the main prize of the competition should be awarded to the film and director who captivated with their radical authorial honesty.
“The candid account of the experience of a female soldier in the ranks of the Ukrainian army does not shy away from the complex and often unexpectedly mundane realities of life in a battalion. The film is distinguished by the subtlety of observation, engaging storytelling, and high documentary craftsmanship,” noted the jury.
A special mention in the Docu/Ukraine competition was awarded to the film
The film creates a poignant and unforgettable portrait of an individual, deeply broken – physically and emotionally – by the experiences endured on the front lines of the Russian war against Ukraine. At the same time, this story extends far beyond individual experience, becoming a powerful testament to the human cost of war.
The main prize in the Docu/Shorts competition was awarded to the film
The film was recognized for its ability to offer a new perspective on the world through simple observations, for its poetic quality, cinematic refinement, and the power of the author’s vision.
A special mention in the Docu/Shorts competition was given to the film
The best young Ukrainian producer was recognized as Daria Zakharova for the film
The best young short film producers were recognized as Oleksiy Yeroshenko, Kateryna Yagodka, and Alla Mityukova for the film
The main prize in the Rights Now! competition was awarded to the film
“Our choice settled on this film because it combines an exceptional number of merits. It is a fresh and original cinematic narrative that opens up a little-known context for the viewer while offering a deep insight into complex social processes. The film is remarkably humane, yet sharply political,” stated the jury.
A special mention in the Rights Now! competition was awarded to the film “
Each year, the Docudays UA team presents an award to a selected film from the festival’s competition program. The Andriy Matrosov Award, established by the Docudays UA organizers in honor of Andriy Matrosov, a Festival producer who died in a car accident on February 16, 2010.
The award was received by the film
The main prize from the student jury went to the film
The special mention from the student jury was awarded to the film
The audience award was given to the film
The award for best editing of a Ukrainian film in memory of Viktor Onysko was presented to montage directors Svitlana Zaloga and Olena Maksym for the film
The award-winning films can be viewed on Audience Day, June 12. Recordings of the discussions held at the festival will be available as podcasts on the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
As Ukrinform reported, the Sunny Bunny film festival will present a Ukrainian retrospective focusing on the experience of queer people in Ukraine at the Zhovten cinema.
Photo: flickr
Festival film
Джерело: www.ukrinform.ua