panel discussion & film screening
No Time Like Home

Experiences of Displacement and Exile

Sat, 28.10.2023
5:00 PM ACUDkino

The panel titled No Time Like Home: Experiences of Displacement and Exile is a special project within the framework of the 4th edition of Ukraine Film Festival Berlin. It is dedicated to showcasing a curated collection of newly made short films that were shot/produced in the aftermath of a full-scale invasion. These films delve deeply into the theme of exile and the search for home.

The central focus of this panel is on the deeply personal narratives of Ukrainians who stayed and those who have been displaced from Ukraine due to various circumstances. Through these films, the panel aims to unravel the intricate dimensions of home and homeland, inviting the audience to contemplate the concept of home as both a physical place and a community. It also highlights the transformative power of time in shaping one's connection to their homeland and sense of identity.

In line with the overarching theme of this year's festival, No Time for Home, the panel aims to explore the complex relationship between home and time. Through thought-provoking films and insightful discussions, it seeks to examine how individuals construct their sense of belonging, even when they are far from their physical homes. The panel uncovers the deep parallels between the notion of home and the essence of our being, ultimately influencing our understanding of self and identity.

During the panel discussion, several short films will be screened to underline the esthetic approach to the topic from the filmmakers:

Three Windows on South West by Mariia Ponomarova (2023, 8 min.)

Waking up in Silence by Mila Zhluktenko and Daniel Asadi Faezi (2023, 18 min)

Smoke on the fire by Daryna Mamaisur (2023, 22 Min.)

Participating panelists:

© Nadia Piddubna

Mariia Ponomarova (1991, Kyiv) is a Ukrainian film director, screenwriter and creative producer based in Amsterdam.  
She studied film directing at Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television and graduated from the Master of Film programme of Netherlands Film Academy. Short fiction and documentary films written and directed by Mariia were selected for such festivals as DokLeipzig, Sheffield DocFest, Sarajevo FF, Vancouver IFF, VIS Vienna Shorts, Molodist IFF and more. Her projects as a creative producer received numerous prizes and were screened at IDFA Best of Fest, Krakow Film Festival, Docudays UA, Palm Springs ISFF and more.  
Mariia is a member of Ukrainian Film Academy and is Senior Consultant at Documentary Association of Europe. 
 

© privat

Marta Smerechynska is a documentary filmmaker and actress. After graduating from I.K. Karpenko-Kary University in Kyiv in 2019, she was a participant of documentary directing programs at L’Université d’été at La Femis in Paris and the Polish-French Film Academy Kinographe. Smerechynskas documentary feature debut Diary of a Bride of Christ premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival 2022. Her previous short film One Aloe, One Ficus, One Avocado and Six Dracaenas premiered at the Visions du Reel 2023. Currently, she is pursuing a DOC NOMADS Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree. 

© squareeyesfilm

Mila Zhluktenko (born in Kyiv, Ukraine) studied in the Documentary Department at the University of Television and Film, Munich. Her films have been screened at numerous film festivals including IDFA, Visions du Réel, Camerimage and MoMA. OPERA GLASSES won the Golden Dove at DOKLeipzig. ARALKUM was awarded Best Shortfilm at Visions du Réel and qualified for the Academy Awards.

© privat

Daryna Mamaisur is a visual artist and filmmaker, born in Kyiv, Ukraine. In her practice, she combines theoretical research, filmmaking and photography. Her main focus lies in the transformations of landscape and public spaces in relation to visual culture, memory and political ecology. Daryna’s two recent films were a personal journey around distance, migration and fragility within the language when it comes to describing the shocking reality of the war. In 2022, she graduated from the DocNomads, a joint master’s program in documentary filmmaking, based in Lisbon, Budapest and Brussels. Her films and video works were screened in art exhibitions and participated in international film festivals such as Kassel Dokfest, Visions du Réel, FIDMarseille, DOK Leipzig and others.

Moderation:

Vitalina Buran (Project management Ukrainian Institute in Germany)


In cooperation with the Ukrainian Institute in Germany and the Ukrainian Film Festival