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Ukrainian Skateboarders Built a Park Near the Front Line—New Film Headed to European Festival
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Ukrainian documentary Landing, which tells the story of a skateboarding community in the frontline city of Okhtyrka, has been selected for the official program of the international SUOMFORNIA film festival in Helsinki, Finland.
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Landing centers on events in 2024, when the local community established Okhtyrka’s first indoor skatepark, known as “Krytka,” amid Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The documentary traces the creation of the skatepark while exploring the experiences of a community living close to the front line. According to the film’s creators, the story focuses on struggle, loss, resilience, and attachment to their hometown, drawing parallels between the risks and achievements of skateboarding and everyday life in a frontline community.
At its core, the film follows people who chose to develop a new community space despite the challenges of wartime rather than wait for more favorable circumstances.
“The selection of Landing in the Best Skateboard Film category marks an important step in bringing the story of Okhtyrka’s skateboarding community and local initiatives to a new international level,” the press release said.
The film was directed by Dmytro Pashko, with Yaroslav Bybyk serving as director of photography. Pavlo Ihnatchenko produced the project, while Bohdan Babych served as coordinator. The soundtrack was created by Seven8 and Pavlo Poputalo, with design by Oleksandr Huzii.
About Krytka
Krytka opened after nearly a decade of development, a process disrupted first by the COVID-19 pandemic and later by Russia’s full-scale invasion. Despite repeated Russian attacks and the displacement of many residents from Okhtyrka, the team continued developing the project, aided by a limited period of US funding.
The indoor skatepark soon developed into a broader community and cultural space. In addition to skateboarding facilities, Krytka hosts graffiti workshops, DJ sets, and other cultural events.
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Visitors can also play table tennis and table football or simply gather and spend time together. Street Cultures provides skateboards free of charge, making the space accessible to those who do not have their own equipment.
The film, created by the Ukrainian NGO Center for the Development of Street Cultures, will compete in the festival’s Best Skateboard Film category.
Separately, in May, Ukrainian documentary RESCUE has been included in the official lineup of the Raindance Film Festival in London, appearing among the titles listed in the festival’s published program.
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