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“Vesna” Premieres at Cannes as Director Urges World Not to Forget Ukraine’s War
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
At the 79th Cannes Film Festival, the film Vesna by director Rostyslav Kyrpychenko premiered worldwide on May 18 as part of the “Special Screenings” program.
According to Suspilne Culture on May 21, the film is a co-production between Ukraine, Lithuania, and France, bringing together an international team of around 80 film professionals.
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The screening at the Palais des Festivals was introduced by Cannes Film Festival artistic director Thierry Frémaux, who reaffirmed the festival’s continued support for Ukraine.
The film crew took part in a traditional photo call during the premiere. Ukrainian actress Anastasiia Pustovit, who plays one of the leading roles, was present on stage, alongside Lithuanian actor Kęstutis Cicėnas, who also stars in the film.
Speaking during the presentation, Kyrpychenko thanked the cast, crew, and co-producers, stressing that the premiere represents not only a cinematic milestone but also a reminder of the ongoing tragedy of war in Ukraine.
He called on audiences to remember Ukrainian soldiers and civilians killed in the war, as well as those living under occupation and continuing to resist.
About Vesna
The story of “Vesna” is set in occupied Ukraine, where Russian forces prohibit the burial of executed Ukrainian civilians. The protagonist, a 35-year-old priest named Andrii, is forced to store bodies until they can be transported to mass graves.
At the same time, he quietly resists by identifying the victims, returning their bodies to families, and attempting to ensure dignified burials.
Just a day earlier, an international historical drama titled Foreign Bodies, focused on Ukrainian scientis Waldemar Haffkine has been officially announced at the Cannes Film Festival.
According to NV, the project will be directed by Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning filmmaker Shekhar Kapur. The film centers on Haffkine’s life and scientific achievements, which are widely credited with saving millions of lives.
Haffkine, originally from Odesa, emerged as one of the most significant scientists of his time. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, his groundbreaking work on vaccines against cholera and plague played a key role in addressing major global epidemics, securing his legacy as an important figure in the development of modern vaccinology.
At the same time, the Ukrainian documentary RESCUE has been selected for the official program of the Raindance Film Festival in London. Its inclusion was confirmed following the publication of the festival’s official lineup, where the film appears among the featured titles.
RESCUE is a feature-length documentary that follows people who risk their lives to evacuate animals from active combat zones in Ukraine. According to the organization Every Animal, while millions of people are forced to flee the war, the film’s protagonists move in the opposite direction—travelling through areas under shelling and along mined roads to reach and save animals left behind.
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