Songs of Slow Burning Earth (UA/DK/SE/FR 2024) | UFFB 2025 Opening Ceremony

Ukrainian Film Festival Berlin (UFFB) 2025 – Opening Night!

(2024) | Documentary

Ukraine, Denmark, Sweden, France | 95 min.

Original title: Пісні землі, що повільно горить

Directed by: Olha Zhurba

Ukrainian with English subtitles(OmeU)

Filmed over a period of two years and from various locations near the front line, this audiovisual diary chronicles the gradual transformation of Ukrainian society and its descent into total war. The panic and horror of the initial weeks of the Russian invasion gradually give way to a sense of acceptance of the war and the resulting destruction. Eventually, war and destruction become everyday life in Ukraine, while the rest of the world treats the war as a mere footnote. 'Songs of Slow-Burning Earth' is a quiet study of how horror and war become part of everyday life, and of the search for a future and humanity.

Olha Zhurba is a Ukrainian director, editor and screenwriter. Her short film Papas Turnschuhe (2021), which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival, has won numerous awards, including the national film prize, the Golden Dzyga, and the Kinokolo critics' prize.With Outward (2022), she made her feature film debut. The film was shown at renowned festivals such as CPH:DOX and Hot Docs, and received the Willy Brandt Prize in Berlin and the Japanese Honorary Prize, among others.Zhurba has also worked as an editor on other award-winning festival successes, such as Alina Gorlova's This Rain Will Never Stop and Alisa Kovalenko's Home Games.

The film will be presented by producer Dariya Bassel, who will be available for a Q&A after the screening.

WHERE AND WHEN?

22.10.2025, 19:30

silent green Kulturquartier

Gerichtstr. 35 · 13347 Berlin

18:00 - doors, reception and performances

19:30 pm - screening of (2024) by Olha Zhurba, with Q&A with film producer Darya Bassel afterwards.

Ukrainian Film Festival Berlin: 22 - 26 Oct. 2025

https://www.uffberlin.de

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