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Cannes 2025 Opens With “Ukraine Day” Spotlighting War Through Film
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The 2025 Cannes Film Festival opened with a special screening program titled “Ukraine Day,” highlighting the ongoing war in Ukraine and the role of filmmakers and journalists in documenting it.
The program, held on May 13 at the Salle Bazin of the Palais des Festivals, featured three films offering distinct perspectives on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
According to the official festival website, the initiative is a joint effort by the City of Cannes, France Télévisions, Brut, and the Cannes Film Festival. Organizers described it as a tribute to those seeking to tell the story of the war in Ukraine and a reminder of how the war continues to affect not only Ukrainians but the broader international community.
The Ukraine Day program included:
“Zelenskyy” (2025) — Directed by Yves Jeuland, Lise Vapné, and Ariane Chemin, this documentary traces the life of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from his early days in Kryvyi Rih through his career as a comedian and lawyer, leading to his role as head of state. The film explores the evolution of his public and political identity.
“Notre Guerre” (“Our War”) — A new documentary by French philosopher and writer Bernard-Henri Lévy and photographer Marc Roussel. It follows Ukrainian soldiers and civilians in the Sumy region and near Pokrovsk between February and April 2025. The film also features an interview with Zelenskyy ahead of his visit to Washington, alongside footage of the Anna Kyivan Brigade, a unit trained and equipped in France. “Notre Guerre” is the final installment in Lévy’s four-part Ukraine-focused documentary series, which has been screened at venues including the United Nations and US Congress.
“20,000 Meters to Andriivka” (2025) — Directed by Ukrainian journalist and Oscar winner Mstyslav Chernov, this documentary follows a platoon from Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade as it attempts to retake the village of Andriivka by advancing through a heavily fortified forest. Filming began in September 2023 and took nearly 18 months. The film is a collaboration between Frontline and the Associated Press, with music composed by two-time Grammy winner Sam Slater (“Chernobyl,” “Joker”). Associated Press Executive Editor Julie Pace described the film as offering “an unfiltered look at the ongoing war in Ukraine and the realities on the ground.”
Chernov himself presented the film and, in his speech, first and foremost thanked the Ukrainian military.
"It is an honor for me to represent Ukraine alongside talented Ukrainian and French directors at the Cannes Film Festival. In these days, when negotiations are underway for peace, for Ukraine’s future, for its land, I would like the world to remember that every meter, every patch of this land— is someone’s blood and life,” the director said.
“This is what the film '2000 Meters to Andriivka' is about. It is about the land and the warriors who defend it. About those who have fallen and those who continue to fight.”
In addition to “Ukraine Day,” several Ukrainian films were featured in the broader festival program:
“Militantropus” — A documentary by Elizaveta Smith, Alina Gorlova, and Semen Mozhovyi will be screened in the Directors’ Fortnight section.
“Urchin” — British actor Harris Dickinson’s directorial debut, selected for the Un Certain Regard program, includes a performance by Ukrainian actress Karina Khymchuk.
“My Grandmother Is a Paratrooper” — A short film by Polina Piddubna will compete in the La Cinef program, which showcases student films.
Organizers emphasized that the inclusion of Ukrainian films underscores Cannes’ ongoing support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
They noted that unexploded ordnance, civilian trauma, and cultural resilience are central themes across this year’s Ukrainian entries. The initiative also reflects the festival’s commitment to using cinema to engage with global challenges and amplify underrepresented voices.
Previously, it was reported that Ukrainian journalist and director Mstyslav Chernov has won the Best Documentary Direction award at the Sundance Film Festival for his film ‘2000 Meters to Andriivka’ in the ‘World Cinema’ category.
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