Residency of Polina Piddubna hosted by Ukrainian Film Festival Berlin in partnership with Linoleum Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival
After spending several days travelling from Kharkiv, I finally arrived in Berlin, where so many exciting things started happening right away! I attended numerous events and exhibitions, all of which were incredibly inspiring. But above all, I was able to continue working on my film “My Grandmother is a Skydiver” in a safe and welcoming environment.
In Berlin and Potsdam, I organised workshops for displaced Ukrainian children and teenagers in community centres and refugee camps. We had a great and productive time with the kids, creating stop motion animations based on their favourite cartoon characters. With the teenagers, we took a more serious approach, animating 2D films based on various psychological topics such as anxiety, gaming dependence and suicide.
The organisers of the Ukrainian Film Festival Berlin were incredibly supportive. They provided all the necessary facilities and gave me clear, helpful information on how to make the most of my time there. We held several productive meetings about the development of the trailer, concept and animated characters. This was a crucial stage, and it was exciting to see the project taking clearer shape. After that, I began working closely with a Berlin-based animator and sound designer, and we got along very well. Our collaboration felt very natural. The teaser portrays the festival edition's mascot, a deer, alongside its friends: a flower, a bird and a human. Together, they resist authoritarian statues — and succeed. The teaser was well received by audiences who laughed a lot and could relate to the characters.
The festival period and residency were an amazing experience. I had the chance to connect with many international filmmakers living in Berlin, watch some beautiful films and grow closer to the festival team. I found it very important to gain a deeper understanding of audiences in Germany so that I could make informed decisions about where my film “My Grandmother is a Skydiver” should go.
I believe that EFFEA played a crucial role in helping me to premiere my film at the Cannes Film Festival, as the residency provided me with the time and financial security I needed to focus on my artistic vision and complete this major project. The film was very well received in Cannes and has already gained international recognition by participating in various festivals around the world.
My plans now include travelling to attend those festivals and initiating workshops and lectures based on the film, as there is so much to share about the process. Of course, I also hope to gain inspiration for my upcoming films and artistic projects. I am particularly interested in researching urbanism, climate, and architecture as possible themes for my future artistic explorations.
I am deeply grateful for all the support and for this transformative experience. Thank you!