МYTH is a film community that unites people from all over the world in support of Ukraine. Our organization was born in 2020 as a screenwriting workshop. With the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, our team began its work as a full-fledged production company. We created our debut film, "The Airplane," in co-production with the USA and Italy. This story, dedicated to the children of war, was warmly received at international film festivals worldwide. The project had a charitable component—we sought and found support for the Ivano-Frankivsk orphanage.
In 2025, our team released another short fiction film, "You'll Understand Someday." The story is dedicated to the liberation of Kherson. The film won a series of local awards and received attention at Ukrainian film festivals. An important task for this project was to raise funds in support of the 13th Brigade of the NGU "Khartia," which we successfully did.
Creating the MYTH: Social Impact Film Award has been a long-standing dream for our team, as cinema as an art form has always fought against injustice and aggression and has always needed (and will continue to need) new platforms.
We have great respect and gratitude for the foreign partners and ordinary citizens who have been supporting Ukraine since 2022. Our award is not only a professional accolade but also a statement of civic position.
We know how difficult and important it is to make films during wartime, and how significant the contribution of the entire Ukrainian artistic community is to our international support. Therefore, we want to recognize leading and powerful projects with the "Voice of Ukraine" award.
The story of the MYTH: Social Impact Film Award begins with the solidarity, respect, and civic position of each of us.
Director of Festival,
Rodion Volkov
Organizers
Ukrainian film director, screenwriter, and producer. Founder of the production company MIF. Fouder and director MYTH: Social Impact Film Award.
Author of over 20 scripts, including short and feature-length, fiction and documentary films. Producer of four short films and director of “The Plane” and “Someday You’ll Understand”.
Ukrainian theater and film actress, casting director, and film director. People's Artist of Ukraine, actress at the Ivano-Frankivsk National Academic Drama Theater named after Ivan Franko, and head of the NGO "MYTH." Founder of the MYTH: Social Impact Film Award.
Festival Jury / Judges
Eduard Georgadze, a director and producer, is the co-creator of the Oscar- and Emmy-nominated documentary "Winter on Fire". His internationally recognized work is a testament to his deep understanding of cinema as a tool for highlighting social issues.
With a degree in film directing, Eduard Georgadze has worked on a wide range of projects, including the documentary "Maidan. The Spirit of Freedom," and numerous short and feature films.
As a jury member of the MYTH: Social Impact Film Award, Eduard brings his unique expertise in filmmaking with a significant social impact. His participation guarantees an unbiased and professional evaluation of films that address important societal themes.
Alen Anisimov is a Ukrainian cinematographer who studied at the Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Karyi University of Theatre, Cinema and Television (2009–2015), Faculty of Film and Television Cinematography.
He began his professional career as a camera mechanic at Patriot Rental, an experience that provided him with a profound understanding of the technical side of cinematography and laid the foundation for his future development.
Subsequently, Alen worked as a cameraman for the TV channels "Ukraine" and "1+1", and served as a cinematographer on several popular television series in collaboration with FILM.UA and other Ukrainian production companies.
A significant highlight of his creative career was his work as director of photography on the documentary "Shakespeare: War and Peace".
Today, Alen Anisimov is a seasoned professional in film, television, and documentary production, known for his creative visual approach and technical mastery.
Roman Dzundza — Artistic Director of Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Philharmonic named after Ira Malaniuk, conductor, audiovisual content producer with full-cycle production experience.
Has extensive experience creating socially significant media projects. In 2021, served as second director and editing director for the series of 5 music-documentary films "Unknown Bortniansky" — a project about rediscovered choral concertos by the 18th-century composer, which was broadcast on over 20 Ukrainian TV channels and had significant cultural impact.
In 2023, created the documentary film "Kyrylo Stetsenko. Grace of Peace" as director, screenwriter, and editing director — a film dedicated to the Ukrainian composer and his contribution to national culture during challenging historical periods.
Realized the audiovisual project "Login: Ukraine, Password: Song" (2020) in collaboration with the winner of "The Voice of the Country" — a project aimed at promoting Ukrainian cultural identity through music.
PhD in Cultural Studies, author of scientific research on cultural identity and innovative approaches in art. Expert of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.
Viktoria Trofimenko is an accomplished Ukrainian director, screenwriter, and creative producer. She is a professional whose work is marked by a unique vision and has achieved international recognition. Her creative output encompasses a range of projects that demonstrate her capability to address profound and complex themes, utilizing a distinct cinematic language.
A key career achievement is her debut feature film, "Brothers. The Final Confession" («Брати. Остання сповідь») (2013). This film was a significant event for Ukrainian cinema, earning awards and selection at leading international film festivals. Viktoria Trofimenko's directing credits also include the film "Bonding" (USA), underscoring her international experience. As a screenwriter, she has contributed to projects such as "Yakov" («Яків»), "Downshifting" («Дауншифтинг»), and "Gulag. Eros of the russian mind" (USA).
Viktoria Trofimenko's professional standing is affirmed by her membership in crucial international film communities. She is a Member of the European Film Academy, as well as the Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Film Academy. This affiliation indicates her substantial contribution to the field of cinema and the recognition of her professional merit at the highest levels.
In addition to her direct creative output, Viktoria Trofimenko is actively involved in education, serving as an experienced lecturer and guest speaker at international film schools, including FAMU in Prague. Her extensive professional background and active participation in the international film circuit qualify Viktoria Trofimenko as a highly competent expert for evaluating the competition film entries at our festival.
Marian Vosumets is a film and commercial producer based in Tallinn, Estonia, with an established track record in international production. Her background includes extensive experience as a journalist and television broadcaster, culminating in the award for Best Television Reporter at the Estonian Film and Television Awards (EFTA) in 2020. This foundation provides her with a deep understanding of narrative construction and public interest topics.
Marian Vosumets is the founder of the independent production house, Lola Productions. Her debut feature documentary, "The Body Fights Back" (Estonia/UK), which she both directed and produced, received international recognition, including participation at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in 2020. The film addresses the complexities of diet culture and eating disorders, reflecting her focus on critical social commentary in her work.
She holds a Master's degree in Filmmaking from the London Film Academy (LFA) and currently occupies the roles of Producer and Head of Development at Cuba Films (Estonia). Her production slate includes developing feature projects such as the neo-noir film "SKIN". Her combined expertise in journalism, direction, and high-level production management qualifies her to offer a robust evaluation of competition entries.
Ms. Vosumets maintains a professional focus on the cinema of Central and Eastern Europe and has publicly confirmed her support for Ukraine. Her international network and dedication to the regional film industry position her as a highly competent expert within our festival jury.
Rostyslav Shpuk is a Ukrainian writer, culturologist (culture-maker), public figure, and photographer, whose multifaceted activity has shaped the unique artistic landscape of Ivano-Frankivsk.
Although an engineer by training, Rostyslav is the co-founder of the art space "Vagabundo", which has become a hub for the cultural underground. Since the mid-90s, he has not only successfully run a business but also actively organizes and finances numerous art events, exhibitions, and concerts.
Rostyslav Shpuk is the author of the famous, socio-critical photo project "B.O.M.Zh." (Without Signs of Artistic Life), where well-known Ukrainian artists (Andrukhovych, Prokhasko, Karpa, Izdryk) posed as homeless people, provoking a wide resonance.
He is the author of the urban art brut novel "Model Range. Chronicles" and is preparing for the release of the historical novel "Fast Cinema. Lost Frames".
His deep understanding of visual art as a photographer, experience with conceptual, stereotype-breaking projects, and constant presence at the intersection of culture and the underground make Rostyslav Shpuk an ideal judge, capable of seeing the "lost frames" and the true depth of cinematography.
The combination of Rostyslav Shpuk's entrepreneurial precision and non-conformist artistic philosophy will be a significant and fresh voice on our festival's jury!