What the Short? – Yakogo Shorta? – Якого Шорта? – Short Films out of competition
Description
UFFB Shorts: Out of Competition. This programme is a joyful collection of the unconventional, the funny, and the delightfully eccentric films our short film committee simply couldn’t let go. From handcrafted micro-shorts to polished genre pieces, it’s all here as long as it’s made with passion and talent. A little bit of everything, brought together for maximum delight.
Films in this programme
Dreamtracks
Margaryta Winkler · Ukraine · 2025 · 2'
A train hums along the tracks, a mind drifts off.
Margaryta Winkler
Margaryta Winkler is a Ukrainian visual artist working across illustration, book cover design, and animation. In 2023 she received a Fulbright grant to pursue a master’s degree in the US and in 2025 she graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with an MFA in Illustration. She began animating while at RISD and has been in love with the medium ever since.
The Last (Final) Take
Oleh Kibalnyk · Ukraine · 2024 · 22'
In childhood parents predict a great future for us. But could anyone have imagined I would become a clapper?
Oleh Kibalnyk
Oleh Kibalnyk was born on 2 February 1997 in Poltava. In 2023, he graduated from the Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema And Television University with a film and television drama degree. Workshop of Irene Rozdobudko.
Life in between
Iryna Lytvynova · Ukraine · 2025 · 4'
A cheerful artist wakes up to the reality of war. She tries to escape to a quiet haven, only to be met by her own destructive emotions. This is a story about struggle — and strength.
Iryna Lytvynova
Iryna Lytvynova is an independent animator from Dnipro, Ukraine. Her passion for stop-motion ignited at the end of 2021, and it was an instant and enduring love affair. This unique form of animation has since become integral to her artistic journey. In 2023, the idea to create a film specifically for festivals captivated her — and that’s how her first large-scale project was born.
Lobbies` Idols
Severian Lazariev · Ukraine · 2024 · 7'
A reclusive young man encountered mysticism in his entrance - suddenly the phone, which has not worked for many years, rang. Now the whole house lives in fear. Will the young man be able to find out who is calling?
Severian Lazariev
Severian is an ancient name, and he was named after his great-grandfather. Severian Lazariev lives and works in Kyiv. In 2016 he started studying fashion design. He loved looking at costumes in movies. And at the same moment, he became interested in cinema. Severian used to sit at home and watch movies, and in the evenings he liked to dress up and go to the film. In 2018, he first got on a movie set as an extra and soon decided that Severian needed to make his own movie. He started jotting down ideas and writing scripts. And now he creates films from time to time.
The Story
Vadim Mochalov · Ukraine · 2025 · 30'
Working on his screenplay about two guys admitting their feelings for each other, a film directing major from Kyiv Lyonya asks his classmate Andriy, with whom he’s secretly in love, to help with the script editing.
Vadim Mochalov
Vadim Mochalov began his studies at Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts in 2019. In 2023, he filmed his graduate work „The Return“ about the life of a queer boy with religious trauma amid a full-scale war in Ukraine. Vadim defended this short feature film at the university and acquired his bachelor's degree. „The Return“ had its premiere at Lviv International Short Film Festival Wiz-Art and later was shown at Sunny Bunny LGBTQ+ Film Festival, GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival and others. In 2025, Vadim got master's degree by defending his short feature film „The Story“ about a young queer writer working on his screenplay in the days of war in Kyiv. The film premiered in the International Short Film Competition of the Sunny Bunny LGBTQ+ Film Festival in 2025 and took part in a National Competition of Mykolaychuk OPEN International Audience Film Festival.
Usual Day
Heorhii Blinov · Ukraine · 2024 · 1'
After staying in the basement of a high-rise building until the last explosion, the friends go home to continue their usual day. This movie is about what has already been experienced and continues to be lived every day.
Heorhii Blinov
Heorhii Blinov is a young Ukrainian director and animator. He made his debut in 2024 with his own animated works. He works in stop-motion and 2D animation, exploring the dynamics of movement and the expressiveness of visual storytelling.
Another Day
Ivan Tsupka, Lera Fokina, Elena Sydorenko · Ukraine · 2024 · 4'
Ukrainian woman tries to preserve a sense of normalcy while living under constant threat of Russian missile strikes. A series of short stories about everyday resilience amidst war.
Love with a Tail
Eduard Nechmohlod · Ukraine · 2025 · 15'
Behind the facade of a perfect marriage, a devoted wife struggles to keep afloat with her unusual husband.
Eduard Nechmohlod
Eduard Nechmohlod (b. August 3, 1987, Kindrativka, Donetsk region) is a Ukrainian film director, screenwriter, and producer. Originally trained as a mechanical engineer, he later pursued filmmaking, earning a master’s degree in feature film directing from Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television named after Ivan Karpenko-Karyi, where he is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Arts. His filmography includes the short The Situation Turned Out This Way (2021), the satirical mockumentary Captain Brovary (2023), and the comedy-musical 70,000 Years Ago (2023), which premiered at the Molodist Film Festival in Kyiv.
Jarred
Maryna Yanul · Ukraine · 2025 · 5'
A peculiar creature’s quiet routine is disrupted by an unexpected visitor, pulling her toward a new and uncertain world.
Maryna Yanul
Maryna Yanul is a Ukrainian animator and filmmaker, driven by a lifelong passion for bringing stories to life through animation. A software developer by profession, Maryna approaches filmmaking with a unique blend of technical skill and artistic vision. „Jarred“ is their first short film, born from a desire to explore the experience of living through challenging and repetitive times, and the importance of embracing change. Inspired by quiet observation and the nuances of everyday life, Maryna aims to create animations that resonate with audiences on a personal level.
Screenings