The 54th edition of the Kyiv International Film Festival Molodist will be held in Kyiv from October 25 to November 2. Molodist remains one of the largest Ukrainian film festivals, presenting around 200 films in its program. It is the only film festival in Ukraine certified by FIAPF (the International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations) in the category of specialized film festivals. Traditionally, the International Competition will include short and feature-length debuts as well as student films. The festival will showcase films from leading film festivals like Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Karlovy Vary, and beyond, and will present best debut films from around the world.

The festival venues will include the Zhovten Cinema (26 Kostyantynivska St.) and the House of Cinema (6 Saksahanskoho St.).

The winner of the Grand Prix for Best Film in the International Competition will receive a cash prize of 5,000 USD and the traditional Molodist award — the Scythian Deer.

As always, this year’s festival program promises to be remarkably diverse and vibrant. Molodist screens films from 45 countries.

The central event of the festival is, as ever, the International Competition, which features first feature-length narrative films, debut short films, and student works. This year, twelve films from around the world have been selected for the International Feature Competition.

Audiences will be treated to the world premiere of Alice Biletska’s film, Our House Is On Fire, produced by Tabor Production. The story unfolds against the dramatic backdrop of the beginning of the full-scale war in 2022 Ukraine, and filmed entirely in Ukraine under bombs, air raid sirens, and curfew – the film follows Sofia, a young Ukrainian singer trying to make it in L.A., who travels to Kyiv for the first time in four years just as the war breaks out, forcing her to make an impossible choice between career and home, safety and love. The leading role is performed by Anastasiia Pustovit.

The International Feature Competition includes two more world premieres. The Fatigued marks the directorial debut of renowned Ukrainian cinematographer Yurii Dunai, who is currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He has collaborated with filmmakers such as Valentyn Vasyanovych, Maciek Hamela, Marisia Nikitiuk, Solomiia Tomashchuk, Heorhii Fomin, Taras Tomenko, and others. The film is produced by Pylyp Illienko, with a screenplay by Solomiia Tomashchuk. Liuba and Andrii, two war veterans bearing both physical wounds and the invisible scars of PTSD, find solace in each other as they navigate the long road to recovery. Their bond offers a fragile hope for healing, but as they confront the lasting impact of trauma and the challenge of rebuilding their lives, their connection is tested in a quiet, deeply human struggle for love, strength, and renewal.

The film Three Times follows Emma, who lives in the Argentinean Patagonia with her granddaughter, whom she raises in the art of dance. The sudden visit of her daughter from a psychiatric hospital will challenge their roles as mothers and daughters. Three Times is the debut feature by Marlene Grinberg.

Films of the International Competition

Student Films:

•Blood Ties, Tomi Joelah Drucker, Israel, 2025, 12’

•Pharmacies, Martín Montellano, Mexico, 2025, 25'

•Shallow Ground, Jozo Schmuch, Croatia, 2025, 20'

•Spark!, Alibi Mukushev, Kazakhstan, 2025, 20'

•Tomorrow Never Comes, Gaia, UK, 2024, 18'

•Skin on Skin, Simon Schneckenburger, Germany, 2025, 30'

•The Reporter, Jan Górecki, Poland, 2025, 22'

•We Have Sinned Before You, Ifat Nener Orgad, Israel, 2024, 19'

•Romchyk, Alexis Bicât, UK, 2024, 12'

•Dancing In The Rain, Chao-chun Yeh, Japan, Taiwan, 2024, 7'

•Handwoven, Dasha Levin, Mason Cazalet, Mihika Das, Matthew Wisdom, India, Ireland, USA, 2024, 9'

•They Made You Into A Weapon And Told You To Find Peace, Roxana Stroe, UK, 2025, 25’

•Light In The Waves, Daria Udachyna, Ukraine, 2025, 7'

•Honey Bunny, Gracjana Piechula, Poland, 2024, 24'

•Qaher, Nada Khalifa, Poland, State of Palestine, Egypt, 2025, 20'

•Where Time Stood Still, Nino Benashvili, Sakartvelo, 2024, 13'

•The Last Bet, Meike Wüstenberg, Austria, 2024, 15'

Short Films:

• Pagliacci, Sebi Escarpenter, Spain, 2025, 20'

•ZAZA, Bogdana Orleanova, Ukraine, UK, 2025, 11'

•Father, Michele Gallone, Italy, 2024, 19'

•I am Not Here Anymore, Nawojka Wierzbowska, Poland, France, 2024, 15'

• Farewell Emile, Alexis Diop, France, 2024, 25'

•National Treasures, Will Wright, UK, 2024, 10'

•Tako Tsubo, Fanny Sorgo, Eva Pedroza, Austria, Germany, 2024, 6'

•Shards of Us, Lela Meburishvili, Ukraine, UK, 2025, 13'  

•One Way Ticket to Tbilisi, Paul Ploberger, Austria, Sakartvelo, Germany, 2025, 30’

•Gates of Europe, Olexi Chubun, Ukraine, 2025, 9'

•Two Ships, McKinley Benson, USA, Portugal, 2025, 7'

•In Pigeon's Blood, Chaya Moshayev, Hod Adler,Israel, Uzbekistan, 2025, 6'

•Under The Radar, Frédérique de Montblanc, Belgium, 2025, 20’

•The Kid In You, Abel Santa, Hungary, 2024, 6'

•Моя земля випалена / My Land is Burned, Абдулрахман аш-Шувайкі / Abdulrahman Alshowaiki, Бельгія / Belgium, 2024, 30'

•Ширма / Paravan, Glória Halász, Угорщина / Hungary, 2025, 11'

•The Lizard of the 20th Street, Ricardo Soto, Mexico, 2025, 14’

•The Most Powerful Human On Earth, Andrew Richardson, UK, 2024, 14'

•The Colosseum, Nabil Kechouhen, France, 2025, 13'

•Conex, Dina Rezaei, Iran, USA, 2025, 15'

Full-Length Films:

•We Believe You, Charlotte Devillers, Arnaud Dufeys, Belgium, 2025, 93’

•Urchin, Harris Dickinson, UK, 2025, 99’

•Our House Is On Fire, Alice Biletska, Ukraine, 2025, 94’

•A Useful Ghost, Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, Thailand, Singapore, Germany, France, 2025, 130’

•Man of the House, Andamion Murataj, Albania, Italy, Austria, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia. 2025, 104'

• Mad Bills to Pay: (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo), Joel Alfonso Vargas, USA, 2025, 101’

•Strange River, Jaume Claret Muxart, Spain, Germany, 2025, 105’

•Renovation, Gabrielė Urbonaitė, Belgium, Latvia, Lithuania, 2025, 90’

•Blue Heron, Sophy Romvari, Canada, Hungary, 2025, 90’

• Reedland, Sven Bresser, Netherlands, Belgium, 2025, 105’

• The Fatigued, Yurii Dunai, Ukraine, 2025, 97’

• Three Times, Marlene Grinberg, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, 2025, 90’

As always, Molodist invites guests to purchase a Festival Pass or a Student Pass (available at a special price): https://ticketsbox.com/54-j-kiyivskij-mizhnarodnij-kinofestival-molodist/
Student Passes are also available to film school students.

The festival is held with the support of the State Film Agency of Ukraine and the National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine.

General Media Partner – 1+1 Media
Coffee Partner – L’or. Infinite Coffee Art
General Technology Partner – Hisense
Lottery Partner – Loto-Zabava, operated by M.S.L., the national lottery operator
International Institute of Depth Psychology
Kyivstar TV – Cinema and Television Platform
Creative Europe Desk Ukraine
Creative Partner – McCANN Kyiv Advertising Agency

Embassies:
Embassy of the Italian Republic
Italian Institute of Culture in Ukraine
Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark
Embassy of Argentina
Embassy of Spain
Embassy of the Hellenic Republic

Main Partners:
Goethe-Institut Ukraine
ILTA Automotive Center Pechersk
Piraeus Bank
Ukrainian-Danish Youth House
TET TV Channel
Mr.SCRUBBER – Ukrainian brand of natural cosmetics
Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways)
Radio Pyatnytsya

Hospitality Partners:
Musafir – Crimean Tatar cuisine restaurant, a taste of Crimea in the capital
Halushka – a network of restaurants of modern Ukrainian cuisine and cultural centers
Tisto – café and bakery in Podil
Ostannya Barykada – art and gastronomic space on Independence Square
Morshynska – Water Partner, natural daily hydration and restoration
“Kiy” – Festival Alcohol Partner, vodka of the new Ukraine, vodka of cultural events
Radisson Blu Hotel, Kyiv Podil, City Centre – Festival Hotel Partner

Media Partners:

Suspilne Broadcasting, Suspilne Kultura, TyKyiv, Focus, LB.ua, Hromadske, Espreso, #ProShoKino, Zahin Kinomaniv.

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