announce
From 20 to 25 April, SUNNY BUNNY presents a number of industry educational events with Ukrainian-Danish Youth House support. Special screenings with Q&A sessions will be held in Sur Art Space, near Eye Sea Gallery (O. Honchar Street, 40).
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the protagonist, tempered by the events in Donbas, decides to stay in Ukraine and volunteer to drive other people to their destination, whether back to Kharkiv or Poland.
The series discusses many sore subjects for Ukrainian society: such as separatism, saboteurs, corruption, humanitarian aid stealing, Russian propagandists, draft evasion, and prejudices against the LGBT community.
Film directors say that they create films and series about Russian aggression against Ukraine to remind foreign viewers about the ongoing war and the realities of it. Therefore, the series, which premiered in 2024, was released not only for Ukrainian viewers, but also in Germany, France, Sweden, Austria, Iceland, and Denmark. Japan, Finland, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia are awaiting release.
Speakers: In Her Car showrunner Eugen Tunik, actress Anastasiia Karpenko, cinematographer Volodymyr Ivanov, Starlight Media representative Yana Honcharenko
Language: Ukrainian
Location: Zhovten cinema, Classic hall
Event registration form.
The story tells about the life of a lesbian couple that navigates the different challenges they face in Ukraine. This episode touches more than just a struggle, but the love and resilience within the LGBTIQA+ community.
After the screening, a Q&A session with actors and creators will focus on the importance of creating socially relevant content and how audience feedback helps to develop authentic and inclusive media narratives.
Speakers: Actress Oksana Zhdanova, director Anna Yeliseeva
Language: Ukrainian
Location: Zhovten cinema, Classic hall
Event registration form.
TCA invites you to join the “Outside the Screen” discussion that opens a dialog focusing on diverse and underrepresented communities in films at the SUNNY BUNNY Film Festival. This panel discussion aims at uniting film directors, procedures, and content creators who discover new horizons of inclusive narratives. These narratives go beyond the lines of conventional ideas, bringing attention to diverse communities, often left behind in media. The talk will attempt: to encourage creating content that respects and reflects diverse communities' experiences, undoing the stereotypes and views, and facilitating a culture of respect and acceptance.
What should one do with the claim: “Not the right time, place, or importance?” Why do content creators often represent LGBTQIA+ characters as stereotypes? Are the actors ready to play these characters, or may it be a risk to their image?
How to resolve the conflict in the audience’s idea that LGBTQIA+ individuals are a part of any content, especially foreign ones, and the importance of explaining that LGBTQIA+ individuals are an integral part of society. Yet, if a heterosexual character may freely display their relationships, an LGBTQIA+ character has to conceal their identity.
Speakers: Those Who Stayed executive producer Anna Eliseeva, In Her Car showrunner Eugen Tunik, Equality Illusion director Anastasiia Hudyma, Lessons Of Tolerance director Arkadyi Nepytaliuk
Language: Ukrainian
Location: Zhovten cinema, Classic hall
Event registration form.
Before the full-scale russian invasion, Ukrainian Prides were one of the most numerous peaceful demonstrations in Ukraine. A grandiose march with thousands of people was a powerful tool for human rights organizations. The full-scale russian invasion changed many aspects, forcing LGBTQIA+ activists to create and renew new creative tools for human rights.
Pride in the subway, gay-news, queer festivals, charity raves, military coming-outs, performances, and post-irony. All this happened in years of full-scale invasion, and these are new instruments for fighting for human rights.
We’ll talk with LGBTQIA+ organizations and activists who reimagined and changed the view on the modern human rights movement.
Speakers: SUNNY BUNNY Film Festival director Bohdan Zhuk, co-founder of Kharkiv Pride and communication manager of Sphere WA, Yakiv Lavrynets', founder of Connection Agency and human rights activist Uliana Movchan, Gender Zed representative Kostyantyn Andriiv, Kyiv Pride 2024 coordinating manager Anna Sharyhina.
Language: Ukrainian
Location: Zhovten Cinema, Classic Hall
Event registration form.
Speakers: Writer, author of the novel “Almost good boys” Darya Chayka, comedian Masym Albul, blogger, teacher, and TeenTalks host Danylo Haidamakha, blogger and social activist Monro.
Language: Ukrainian
Location: Zhovten Cinema, Classic Hall
Event registration form.
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Before the full-scale invasion, subversive collective Rebel Queers would defy the heteronormative and patriarchal world that so suffocated them by scrawling on the walls of Kyiv: ‘Queer Sex,’ ‘Make Queer Punk Again,’ and ‘Be Queer, Do Crime, Hail Satan,’ among others. The driving force behind Rebel Queers is Angelika Ustymenko (they/them), a non-binary and neurodivergent artist and filmmaker.
Original film Rebel Queers was shown last year at SUNNY BUNNY. When their country and community came under attack, they resolved to document the experiences of queer Ukrainians during wartime. On the first anniversary of the full-scale invasion, Angelika began a new phase of their documentary project, collaborating with Huck Docs to collect queer soldiers’ reflections after a year of war and broadening the focus to include other forms of queer resistance.
Speakers: Documentary directors Angelika Ustymenko (they/them) and Alex King.
Language: Ukrainian/English
Location: Sur Art Space / Eye Sea Gallery, O. Honchar Street, 40
Event registration form.
“I am nobody and his body would not have been given to me"
"I became a disgrace to the family"
"I was afraid to burn in hell"
These are the phrases of the three heroes of the documentary project “Equality Illusion”, in which Ukrainian women and men, LGBTQ+ military, tell their painful stories of the daily struggle for basic human rights. The heroes of the film work, volunteer, and serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, risking their lives every day like everyone else, and have fewer rights and legal protection.
The docu-project “Equality Illusion” was realized in cooperation with the Coordination Centre for National Minorities Broadcasting on Suspilne and EU financial aid support. The project is the responsibility of Suspilne and may not reflect EU views.
Speakers: Film cast, creative team, Equality Illusion producer Anastasiia Hudyma, expert Tetiana Kasian, People's Deputy of Ukraine Inna Sovsun
Language: Ukrainian
Location: Sur Art Space / Eye Sea Gallery, O. Honchar Street, 40
Event registration form.
In the lecture, we’ll talk about ADHD, the diagnosis in adults, and comorbidity with other disorders. The likelihood of developing substance abuse in people with ADHD and its reasons. What do we know about substances and their impact on brains with ADHD? What are the options for medical correction of ADHD symptoms, and what is the status of the issue in Ukraine?
Speakers: Kristina Shevchenko, clinical psychologist and researcher of the recreational drug users characteristics topic. Qualifications: ADHD diagnosis in adults, general personality diagnosis.
Location: Zhovten cinema, Classic hall
Language: Ukrainian
Event registration form.
Benefits of LGBTQIA+ partnerships and what should you know about them. Types of partnerships and examples of Taimi with Netflix, Showtime, Apple TV, Katy Perry, The Ellen Show, Todrick Hall, Doja Cat, Pride Events, Attitude Magazine, Gay Times, etc.
Taimi partnerships for the Ukrainian queer community.
Speakers: Global Partnerships Lead Taimi at appflame Diana Lysenko
Language: Ukrainian
Location: Zhovten cinema, Classic hall
Event registration form.
SUNNY BUNNY Film Festival together with Jägermeister announces Ukrainian LGBTQIA+ short films pitching.
Wonderful news for our filmmakers as they have another opportunity to get financial aid for their film project. The winner of the pitching received 80,000 hryvnias.
We accept films of all genres: documentaries, animation, feature films, experimental projects) with a duration of up to 30 minutes.
Production country: Ukraine or co-production with Ukraine.
You may submit applications for projects in development or WIP projects.
Deadline: 6–18 April. 24 April projects pitching.
Registration link for industry film professionals who want to attend the Pitching.
To submit your project use this link
Documentary project Vydymi (Visible) is 10 stories of Ukrainians that change the country and inspire others. The lives of every single character in our project changed because of the war. They join the army, document war crimes, volunteer, support veteran initiatives, fight for equal rights, and create Ukrainian content. They work for our victory and life in a democratic society, where human rights are above all.
The project also tells the stories of female leaders, LGBTQIA+ service people, and queer community members.
“We can’t host Pride because of the war and the members of the community are fighting alongside other Ukrainians at the frontline. They sacrifice their professional and personal lives (for) their country. Yet at the same time, they still do not have the opportunity to freely and without fear hold their partner's hand while walking down the central streets of Kyiv. And they cannot legally register a relationship so that if they are injured, their partners could visit them,” says Taisiia Kutuzova.
Speakers: Cast and creative crew of the film
Language: Ukrainian
Location: Sur Art Space / Eye Sea Gallery, O. Honchar Street, 40
Event registration form.
You have an opportunity to learn more about human rights promotion in Ukraine and the role of cinema and media in strengthening the political and social visibility of LGBTQIA+ people.
This initiative is a part of the Promoting Equality and Combating Discrimination program run by the National Democratic Institute with funding from Sweden, the UK, and the US.
Views, conclusions, and recommendations expressed during the event may not reflect the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' position concerning the Commonwealth and the development of the UK, His Majesty's Government, Sweden's government, USAID, or RI.
Speakers: media and creative creators, People’s Deputies of Ukraine, and EU representatives.
Language: Ukrainian/English
The location will be disclosed to the event participants.
Event registration form.
