A Ukrainian film has been selected for the Cannes Film Festival
6 May 03:21
The Ukrainian documentary “Crossing Oxus” has been selected for the Cannes Docs program, which takes place as part of the Cannes Film Festival’s Marché du Film. The film is directed by Svitlana Lishchynska and produced by Olga Gibelinda. The project will be presented in the Spotlighted Projects section.
The Ukrainian Film Academy announced this on Facebook, reports "Komersant Ukrainian"
The 2026 Marché du Film will run from May 12 to 20.
Ukrainian documentary film selected for Cannes Docs
The film “Crossing Oxus” has been selected for the Spotlighted Projects section of the Cannes Docs program. This is an industry platform for documentary film that operates within the Cannes Film Market (Marché du Film).
The Ukrainian project was selected following an open competition organized by the Ukrainian Institute in collaboration with the Cannes Film Market.
What is “Crossing Oxus” about?
Crossing Oxus is a documentary about Ukrainian director Marina, who meets the last Soviet soldier to leave Afghanistan.
The man has preserved a unique personal archive—letters and film reels. Through these materials, the protagonists delve into memories of the war, the past, and the traumatic legacy of the Soviet era.
Gradually, a fragile bond forms between them, allowing for a fresh perspective on the experience of war, memory, personal responsibility, and the influence of the totalitarian past on the present.
The film is still in production
The film is directed by Svitlana Lishchynska and produced by Olga Gibelinda. The project is a co-production between Ukraine, Sweden, and Belgium.
Crossing Oxus is currently in the early stages of production. At the same time, the project has already received international recognition.
In 2026, the film was presented at the East Doc Platform in Prague, where it won The Docs Up Fund Award.
The jury members noted the power and relevance of the project.
“This is a powerful and uncompromising portrayal of war in all its brutality, which deeply resonates with contemporary conflicts around the world,” the jury members noted.
What is Cannes Docs
Cannes Docs is part of the Marché du Film, the professional industry section of the Cannes Film Festival. The program brings together documentary filmmakers from around the world every year.
Participation in Cannes Docs gives filmmakers the opportunity to:
- present their projects to international experts;
- find production partners;
- gain access to distributors and sales agents;
- increase the film’s international visibility;
- secure support to complete the film.
Why this is important for Ukrainian cinema
The participation of a Ukrainian film in Cannes Docs is further proof that Ukrainian documentary cinema remains prominent on the international stage.
Since the start of the full-scale war, Ukrainian filmmakers have increasingly explored themes of memory, trauma, war, the Soviet legacy, and the experience of a post-totalitarian society.
“Crossing the Ox” continues this trend, but through a story that combines a Ukrainian perspective, the Afghan War, and the personal archive of a man who was a participant in it.
Cannes Film Festival: A Brief Overview
The Cannes Film Festival is one of the world’s most prestigious international film festivals. It takes place annually in the French city of Cannes.
Along with the festivals in Venice, Berlin, Toronto, and Sundance, Cannes is part of the so-called “Big Five” of the world’s most important film industry events.
