One of the most versatile figures in the history of Ukrainian cinema is Sergii Masloboishchykov, a film and theatre director whose art occupies a special place in the national discourse. In 1995, he was the first Ukrainian director to appear in competition at International Film Festival Rotterdam. Thirty years later, he returns with a diverse retrospective of 13 films, including the international premiere of Yasa (2024), which reflects on the socio-political revolution in Ukraine and thus resembles a portrait of the auteur. Emerging along the process of redefinition of national cinema, Masloboishchykov’s work spans the country’s most dramatic moments to the present day. Through the complexity and multilayeredness of the form, he offers a unique perspective on the equally complex cultural and political landscape of his country.
In this conversation, Masloboishchykov will be joined by the leading actress in his films, as known as his wife, Alla Serhiiko, and the producer of his latest film, Oleksii Moskalenko. Moderated by Sonya Vseliubksa, the conversation will look back at Masloboishchykov’s career as a filmmaker in the dynamics of the constant episodes of political turmoil, explore the role of cinema in capturing and reflecting the ongoing reality, and delve into the actuality of the Ukrainian film industry under the ongoing full-scale invasion.
