01/08/2022 - Organised by two Ukrainian activists, the event has taken place in the city of Mykolaiv, on which Russian bombs could be falling at this very moment

Tactical Pause - Ukrainian cinema in Mykolaiv, initiated and organised by film journalist Alex Malyshenko and by public organisation DoF’s Volunteer Coordinator Dmytro Davydenko, has unfolded in one of Mykolaiv’s shelters from 27 to 31 July.

"A tactical pause is a short-term cessation of hostilities for the purpose of regrouping and building up forces. I believe that Ukrainian cinema can act as a kind of tactical pause for volunteers and residents of Mykolaiv and energise them a little, at least. In terms of screenings, Dmytro and I chose Ukrainian films which changed their sound in line with this new context and were considerably updated. There are also many films in the selection which only enjoyed a short rental period in the city, if any at all", Alex Malyshenko explains.

"Holding cultural events for volunteers in Mykolaiv is an ambitious idea, but it’s no less crucial than helping with medicines or other products. Ukrainian film screenings will unite the army, our volunteers, and residents of the city around the idea of ​​consuming quality Ukrainian content, and will encourage people to fall in love with Ukrainian cinema”, Dmytro Davydenko insists.

The festival programme will showcase Ukrainian films which have already won over audiences with their aesthetics and emotive content, namely Nariman Aliev’s Homeward [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], Kateryna Gornostai’s Stop-Zemlia [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kateryna Gornostai
film profile], Antonio Lukic’s My Thoughts Are Silent [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], Andriy Lytvynenko’s Askania Reserve, Roman Lyubyi’s War Note, Roman Perfilyev’s Inglorious Serfs, and The First Company, an omnibus film directed by Yuriy Gruzinov, Yulia Shashkova and Yaroslav Pilunskyi.

Viewers needed to register for screenings, but admission was free. The exact time and location of these screenings were not disclosed, for security reasons.

Tactical Pause - Ukrainian Cinema in Mykolaiv is organised in cooperation with Arthouse Traffic, 86PROKAT, Bavylon'13, Kristi Films and 435 Films, with the support of Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkovych and the Mykolaiv Development Agency.