The Docudays UA Festival Announced Winners 12.06.2026 17:50 Ukrinform The International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Docudays UA has announced its 2026 winners.
As Ukrinform reports, this is stated on the festival’s website.
The main prize of the DOCU/WORLD competition was awarded to the film.
The film tells the story of a psychiatrist specializing in assisting individuals who opt for euthanasia as a final means to end their suffering. He examines their medical history, listens to their life stories, and, after confirming their unwavering decision, guides them through the legal procedures and final stages of assisted departure from life.
In this way, the film initiates a profound and sensitive conversation not only about an individual’s right to self-determination concerning their own life, body, and mind but also about society’s chronic lack of understanding regarding mental health disorders and their often-underestimated impact on quality of life.
A special mention in the Docu/World competition was given to the film.
The film presents a striking and poignant narrative that tackles an extremely sensitive issue and one of the most serious problems facing modern society—violence against women—unfolding as a unique authorial statement and a vibrant example of contemporary creative documentary filmmaking.
The main prize of the Docu/Ukraine competition was won by the film.
The jury unanimously concluded that the main prize of the competition should go to the film and director who captivated with their radical authorial honesty.
“The candid portrayal 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 the battalion. The film is distinguished by the subtlety of its observation, its engaging narrative, and its high documentary craftsmanship,” the jury noted.
A special mention in the Docu/Ukraine competition was received by the film.
The film crafts a piercing 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. Simultaneously, this story extends far beyond individual experience, becoming a powerful testament to the human cost of war.
The main prize of the Docu/Shorts competition was awarded to the film.
The film was recognized for its ability to offer a fresh perspective on the world through simple observations, for its poetic quality, cinematic refinement, and the strength of the author’s vision.
A special mention in the Docu/Shorts competition was given to the film.
The Best Young Ukrainian Producer award went to Daria Zakharova for the film.
The Best Young Short Film Producers award was given to Oleksiy Yeroshenko, Kateryna Yahodka, and Alla Mityukova for the film.
The main prize of the Rights Now! competition was awarded to the film.
“Our choice fell on this film because it combines an exceptional number of virtues. 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 acutely political,” the jury stated.
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 went 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 Zaloza 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 experiences of queer people in Ukraine at the Zhovten cinema.
Photo: flickr
Festival film