Ukrainian film competes for Berlinale’s top prize for the first time in 25 years

Kateryna Hornostay's documentary "Timestamp" is set to compete for the Golden Bear, the top award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Suspilne. Kultura reports this.

"Timestamp" is a mosaic of school life in Ukraine during the war. The film shows the educational process, the everyday lives of teachers and students in different areas:

• Cherkasy;
• Kharkiv;
• Borodianka;
• Bucha.

A tragic event unfolded in the city of Romny, Sumy region, where a funeral was held just two days after a Russian drone directly hit a school, claiming the lives of the principal, deputy principal, librarian, and secretary.

The film does not include interviews or stories of the characters, but conveys the atmosphere and realities of school life.

"Our film does not aim to tell the stories of its heroes: it does not contain stories about them and interviews. But instead, "Timestamp" will immerse the viewer for an hour and a half in the life of Ukrainian schools during the war, which is still ongoing," the film's creators say.

^{Photo: Odesa International Film Festival}

"The war has entered this everyday life very deeply, but we have nothing left but to continue living and learning," Kateryna Hornostay said.

The film's producer, Olha Beshmelnytsyna, stated that it has been over 25 years since Ukrainian films were last featured in the main competition of this festival.

"This is a major challenge we're facing now. I'm nervous because our film is alongside world-class names on this platform, which carries a huge responsibility," Kateryna Hornostay noted.

The idea for a film about education during wartime was proposed by the public association "Osvitoria," which took on the duties of executive producer. The film was produced by 2Brave Productions.

"We want to remind the world that the war in Ukraine continues, and its children and teachers are paying an excessive price for the opportunity to exercise a basic human right – the right to education," Zoia Lytvyn, founder of "Osvitoria," says.

The film was produced by Olha Beshmelnytsyna and Nataliia Libet. The production team also included François Le Gaulle and Marion Gut from Luxembourg, Rinske Raap from the Netherlands, and Victor Ede from France.

For reference:

The Berlin International Film Festival, established in 1951, ranks among the most prestigious cinema events in Europe. This year, it's set to take place from February 13 to 23.

In 2024, several Ukrainian film premieres took place at the Berlin International Film Festival, which took place from February 15 to 25.

The military drama "Bucha," which depicts the tragic events during the Russian occupation in Bucha, Vorzel, and Hostomel in February and March 2022, has become the most popular title on Netflix in Ukraine.