press release
The jury awarded the Best Feature Film of the International Feature Competition to The Cactus Pears directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade.
“In this film, we want to highlight the strong and unforgettable presence of all its characters. It conveys tenderness, openness, lightness, and offers hope to continue living fully despite conservative setbacks,” the jury members stated in their on-stage commentary.
A Special Mention was awarded to Viet and Nam, directed by Minh Quy Truong.
“A film that masterfully addresses the issues of war, poverty, migration, and sexuality on both personal and societal levels,” commented the jury.
In the International Short Film Competition, the winner was For Carlos, directed by Carlos Cipriano.
“With the award for Best Short Film, we want to recognize a work that reflects grief and the pain of loss with tenderness and respect,” the jury stated.
Two films received Special Mentions:
Stone in Stomach directed by Géraldine Charpentier.
“A film that touchingly, thoughtfully, and sincerely portrays everyday challenges in partnerships and love,” the jury noted.
And Çürük, directed by Marion Molinari and Tuğçe Karabacak.
“We want to emphasize that the existence, representation, happiness, and rage of trans people are vital for every queer movement. Therefore, the trans community needs unwavering support, both within the queer community and in society at large,” added Hanne Homrighausen and Ira Tantsiura from the stage.
International Jury Members:
Hanne Homrighausen – Co-director and program co-coordinator of Hamburg International Queer Film Festival, board member of QueerScope — the association of independent queer film festivals in Germany. Her visit to Kyiv was made possible by the Goethe-Institut Ukraine.
Ira Tantsiura – Queer feminist activist, co-founder, and programmer of the feminist film festival “Filma”.
Eugen Jebeleanu – Romanian film and theatre director, actor, and winner of the SUNNY BUNNY Award at the Molodist Film Festival in 2021 (participated remotely).
In the third LGBTQIA+ Ukrainian Short Film Pitching, supported by Jägermeister, the winner was the film project LET’S GO FOR A WALK IN THE WOODS directed by Mariia Chernii.
The project receives UAH 80,000 in funding from our sponsor and partner.
The Special Mention of the Pitching Jury was awarded to the documentary project Tell Me a Fairy Tale for its bravery and frankness, complexity, relevance, and portrayal of the breadth of life. The future film is directed by Diana Anikieieva and produced by Nadiia Parfan (Phalanstery Films).
Pitching Jury Members:
Maksym Nakonechnyi – Director, screenwriter, and producer.
Olha Husiatynska – Programmer and curator at KISFF.
Alex Pereira – Brand manager of Jägermeister, co-founder and resident of the LGBTQIA+ event series STEZHKA.
For the third time, the Ukrainian Film Critics’ Association Jury worked at SUNNY BUNNY, reviewing the International Feature Film Competition, International Short Film Competition, and the Ukrainian Programme.
Awards:
Best Feature Film – Viet and Nam by Minh Quy Truong.
"For a powerful and insightful journey into the past of a distant country whose traumas feel surprisingly close to ours."
Special Mention – Eat the Night by Jonathan Vinel and Caroline Poggi.
"For a stylish and moving fusion of dark street reality and virtual fantasies."
Best International Short Film – Çürük by Marion Molinari and Tuğçe Karabacak.
"For a sensitive and powerful story of dignity, resistance, and visibility in a world that often overlooks trans realities."
Best Ukrainian Short Film – What You Will Do When the War Continues? by Vladyslav Plisetskyi.
"For an uncompromising dialogue with the past and future."
Ukrainian Film Critics’ Association Jury Members:
