“Transformation of Human Through War”: Ukrainian Documentary Militantropos Shortlisted for European Film Award

The Ukrainian documentary film Militantropos , directed by the collective of Yelizaveta Smith, Alina Gorlova, and Simon Mozgovyi of TABOR production, has been officially shortlisted for the European Film Award for Best Documentary.

This selection, made by the European Film Academy Board and a panel of invited European experts, highlights the film as one of 15 entries representing the highest achievements in innovative documentary cinema.

The shortlisting follows a successful global circuit for the film, which premiered at Quinzaine des Cinéastes in Cannes five months ago and has since been screened at over 25 international festivals. The documentary also secured the Film Critics' Prize at Docudays UA in June.

Militantropos offers a profound cinematic examination of the human condition amidst the fractured realities of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The film meticulously documents the transformation of everyday lives by war, tracing the experiences of those who have fled, those who have endured loss, and those who remain to resist. The narrative explores both the fundamental instinct to survive and the pervasive human need for connection during war.

The project benefits from the unique collaboration of three award-winning directors.

Alina Gorlova is recognized for her debut This Rain Will Never Stop, which received the IDFA First Appearance Competition award.

Yelizaveta Smith is a Sundance alumni whose film School Number 3 won the Grand Prix at the Berlinale Generation 14plus competition in 2017.

Simon Mozgovyi's debut, The Winter Garden's Tale, earned the Best Ukrainian Film award at Docudays UA.

This collaborative effort, filmed across Ukraine since the full-scale Russian aggression began in February 2022, contributes to its bold cinematic perspective.

“We began filming as a reflex on the first day of the full-scale invasion, collecting evidences of crimes. Soon we realized we were capturing not only fragments of truth, but our shared human experience. Our journey turned into a cinematic attempt to make a document of time, following the transformation of the human through war,” said Eugene Rachkovsky, the film’s producer from TABOR production.

The directors added that their desire was to investigate the core of the war, believing a collaborative project allowed them to capture different territories and human experiences across the country with greater strength and depth than individual efforts.

Earlier, Ukrainian filmmaker Valentyn Vasyanovych secured a historic win for Ukraine, with his new feature film, For Victory!, claiming the top prize in the Platform competition at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival.

Support our frontline reporters

We report from the front lines to show the reality of war. Your support helps us stay there and tell the stories that matter.

DONATE NOW