The Docudays UA Festival Announced Winners 12.06.2026 17:50 Ukrinform The international human rights documentary film festival Docudays UA has revealed 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 who specializes in assisting individuals who choose 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 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 persistent misunderstanding of mental health disorders and their often-underestimated impact on quality of life.
A special mention in the Docu/World competition went to the film
The film presents a striking and poignant narrative that tackles an extremely sensitive topic and one of the most serious issues facing contemporary society – violence against women. This issue is explored as a unique authorial statement and a brilliant example of modern creative documentary filmmaking.
The main prize in the Docu/Ukraine competition was claimed 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 a battalion. The film stands out for its subtle observation, compelling narrative, and high documentary craftsmanship,” noted the jury.
A special mention in the Docu/Ukraine competition was awarded to the film
The film crafts a piercing and unforgettable portrait of an individual deeply broken, both physically and emotionally, by the experiences endured on the front lines of the Russian war against Ukraine. Simultaneously, this story transcends individual experience, becoming a powerful testament to the human cost of war.
The main prize in the Docu/Short 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 elegance, and the strength of the author’s vision.
A special mention in the Docu/Short 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 named Oleksiy Yeroshchenko, 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 acutely political,” stated the jury.
A special mention in the Rights Now! competition was awarded to the film “
Every year, the Docudays UA team presents an award to a selected film from the festival’s competition program. The Andrey Matrosov Award, established by the Docudays UA organizers in honor of Andrey Matrosov, a Festival producer who tragically died in a car accident on February 16, 2010.
The award went to the film
The main prize from the student jury was awarded 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 editing directors Svitlana Zaloga and Olena Maksym for the film
The award-winning films can be viewed on the 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