The Stronghold
Сторожова застава · Grensefestningen
A family fantasy adventure based on Volodymyr Rutkivskyi’s novel: a modern-day teenager falls through a time portal into the age of Kyivan Rus.
Completed project · 2026
Ukrainian Independence
Film Days
Completed
The festival took place for the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence: 11 DCP screenings of Ukrainian films and an official opening ceremony. Organized by the Ukrainian Audiovisual Foundation together with InsightMedia Producer Center, at a Nordisk Kino venue.
Strategic partners
Results
~500
visits over the three days of the festival (according to the cinema)
11
screenings and an official opening ceremony
3
days of Ukrainian cinema in Drammen
Festival programme
Three screenings were ticketed: “Slovo House” (opening), “My Carpathian Grandpa” and “Red” (closing). All the others were free or by invitation.
Saturday, 22 August
17:30–18:00
Main Hall
Official Opening Ceremony
Invitation / ticket
Sunday, 23 August
18:30–21:00
Hall 95
Firecrosser + short films + an evening with Mykhailo Illienko
Free / by invitation
Monday, 24 August
15:30–17:20
Hall 95
Nest of the Turtledove + a meeting with actress Rymma Ziubina
Free / by invitation
Films in the programme
Mavka. The Forest Song
Мавка. Лісова пісня · Mavka. Skogens sang
An animated adventure inspired by Lesia Ukrainka’s classic “The Forest Song” — a love story between a forest nymph and a human boy.
Crazy Wedding
Скажене весілля · Det Elleville Bryllupet
One of Ukraine’s biggest box-office comedies: the father of the bride discovers that his future son-in-law is nothing like the man he imagined.
Slovo House. Unfinished Novel
Будинок «Слово». Нескінчений роман · Ordets Hus: En ufullendt roman
Norwegian premiere A historical drama about the Slovo building in Kharkiv and the Executed Renaissance — a generation of Ukrainian writers destroyed by the Stalinist regime.
Ivan Syla
Іван Сила
A family film based on the true story of Ivan Firtsak-Kroton from Zakarpattia, once recognized as the strongest man in the world.
The Dragon Spell
Микита Кожумʼяка · Mikita: Dragens magi
An animated fairy-tale adventure: the young son of a legendary hero sets off into a magical world to prove that strength is not only in muscles.
My Carpathian Grandpa
Мій карпатський дідусь · Min Bestefar fra Karpatene
A warm story of generations meeting in the Carpathians: a city grandson from abroad discovers his grandfather, the mountains and his own roots. Starring Bohdan Beniuk.
Firecrosser
Той, хто пройшов крізь вогонь · Den som gikk gjennom ilden
A drama based on the real fate of Ukrainian pilot Ivan Datsenko: from a Hero of the Soviet Union to the chief of a First Nations tribe in Canada.
Terykony
Терикони
A documentary about childhood next to the war in eastern Ukraine. The film premiered at the Berlinale.
Nest of the Turtledove
Гніздо горлиці · Turtelduens Rede
★ Best Ukrainian Film (Odesa International Film Festival) · 6 Golden Dzyga awards of the Ukrainian Film Academy
An award-winning drama about labour migration and the price of separation: a woman returns home from work in Italy to face difficult choices. Starring Rymma Ziubina.
Red (Chervonyi)
Червоний · Rømning fra Stalins Fangeleir
A drama based on Andrii Kokotiukha’s novel: UPA soldier Danylo Chervonyi leads an uprising in a Stalinist prison camp.
Foxter & Max
Фокстер і Макс
A family adventure about a boy and his robot dog. Free non-commercial screening by permission of rights holder Pronto Film.
Guests & creative evenings
Mykhailo Illienko
Film director
Creative evening on 23 August: screening of “Firecrosser” and the director’s new short films.
Rymma Ziubina
Actress
Meeting on 24 August: screening of “Nest of the Turtledove” followed by a conversation with the actress.
Photos from the festival
Thank you
A big thank you
Ukrainian Independence Film Days happened thanks to the people and organisations who believed in Ukrainian cinema abroad. First of all, our warmest thanks go to the Ukrainian State Film Agency (Derzhkino), the foundation’s strategic partner, for its trust, support and shared belief that Ukrainian cinema should be heard on screens around the world. We also thank the Association of Producers of Ukraine, the foundation’s strategic partner.
We thank Viken filmsenter for the financial support of the project; Drammen kino and the Nordisk Kino network for their hospitality, halls and wonderful team; InsightMedia Producer Center for co-organising; the films’ rights holders — FILM.UA Group, Fresh Production, Karandash Animation Studio, Slovo House / Dzyga and Pronto Film — for the screening permissions; Mykhailo Illienko and Rymma Ziubina for meeting the audience. And, of course, everyone who came, watched, shared and supported us — guests, volunteers and friends of the festival. Thank you.
Partners & rights holders
The project is realised with the financial support of Viken filmsenter (Norway). vikenfilmsenter.no ↗
Host venue
Producing partner
Rights holders
Slovo House / Dzyga
Partners and supporters
Get involved
The festival is over, but Ukrainian cinema in Norway continues. Support the next projects or propose cooperation.
- See the 2027 programme and send your questions and wishes.
- Support the foundation with a donation — details on the “Get involved” page.
- Rights holders: terms of participation in our events.