Winners of 17th LIFF Wiz-Art
Presenting the winners of 17th Lviv International Film Festival Wiz-Art!
GRAND PRIX
HOMECOMING 19′ Yarema Malashchuk, Roman Khimei, Ukraine 2026
A few years after fleeing Ukraine following the Russian invasion, a boy returns home via a robotic dog, his mechanical avatar, which he controls from his room in Poland. Through this remote presence, he relives memories and reconnects with his past — a connection that now depends on a fragile video stream that could be cut off at any moment.
NATIONAL COMPETITION AUDIENCE CHOICE
WAR FILM FESTIVAL 17′ Oleksandra Horiienko, Ukraine, Sweden 2026
A satirical mockumentary that explores how war turns into a convenient backdrop for self-promotion, with sensitive topics becoming a mere tool for the filmmakers’ careers.
NATIONAL COMPETITION BEST FILM
The winning film of the National Competition particularly impressed us with its organic combination of form and content, where a truly strong concept and its execution work together as one. This film offers a contemporary yet very subtle perspective on human connection and intimacy, inviting us to reflect on what it means to call a place home. For its original concept, confident directorial approach, and subtle exploration of connection and disconnection in the digital age, the National Award goes to Homecoming.
HOMECOMING 19′ Yarema Malashchuk, Roman Khimei, Ukraine 2026
A few years after fleeing Ukraine following the Russian invasion, a boy returns home via a robotic dog, his mechanical avatar, which he controls from his room in Poland. Through this remote presence, he relives memories and reconnects with his past — a connection that now depends on a fragile video stream that could be cut off at any moment.
NATIONAL COMPETITION SPECIAL MENTION
A film can tell you a story without ever telling it explicitly. Sometimes, the most powerful stories are the ones we feel and sense. Sometimes, simply observing the characters and their connections can say more than any plot. For its subtle, sensitive, and deeply moving portrayal of the circle of life in times of war, we would like to award a Special Mention to the short film “The Ferry Flows.”
THE FERRY FLOWS 18′ Zhora Papoian, Ukraine, 2026
A grey-haired music teacher from a small, yet picturesque Ukrainian island prepares his tiny brass ensemble for a spring concert with a song called “Draw me the night”. Soldier funerals come to town, turning him into a military conductor. A ferry that carried city residents through the Dniester River is now drawing night after night.
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION AUDIENCE CHOICE
WHEN THE SEA WAS CALM 17′ Mamuka Tkeshelashvili, Georgia 2026
During the final summer before war devastates Sokhumi, a 13-year-old boy discovers a love he has never known before. Years later, he returns to the ruined city, confronting memories of innocence shattered by conflict.
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION BEST FILM
Within this engaging and highly urgent film, we see a refreshing take on the similarities of filmmaking and state-building attitudes. Utilizing the variety of means – from maps and photographs to text on screen and AI renders- the filmmaker unites it all into an experimental conversation-driven documentary, showing the outstanding level of self-reflection and strength of his storytelling. No political and creative power dynamics explored should be ignored, and the filmmaker conveys it in the most elegant and cinematic way. The Award for The Best Film of the International Competition goes to THE RECCE by Daniel Mann.
THE RECCE 15′ Daniel Mann, Germany, United Kingdom 2026
Within this engaging and highly urgent film, we see a refreshing take on the similarities of filmmaking and state-building attitudes. Utilizing the variety of means – from maps and photographs to text on screen and AI renders- the filmmaker unites it all into an experimental conversation-driven documentary, showing the outstanding level of self-reflection and strength of his storytelling. No political and creative power dynamics explored should be ignored, and the filmmaker conveys it in the most elegant and cinematic way.
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION SPECIAL MENTION
While not offering a hopeful ending – as some of those are painful and tragic – this animated film is done with an outstanding level of thought about the details and creative elements. It explores the thin line between desire and material life, between the inner and outer worlds, and visualizes it in an original way. It inventively showcases the struggle to push yourself out in the situation of inescapable duties of care for others on a weekend day, which should seemingly be a person’s day off. It viscerally plunges one into the abyss of shame when a woman at the center of the story explodes and offers deep insight into the complexities and struggles of preserving oneself. The Special Mention in the International Competition goes to BECAUSE TODAY IS SATURDAY by Alice Eça Guimarães.
BECAUSE TODAY IS SATURDAY 13′ Alice Eça Guimarães, Portugal 2025
While not offering a hopeful ending – as some of those are painful and tragic – this animated film is done with an outstanding level of thought about the details and creative elements. It explores the thin line between desire and material life, between the inner and outer worlds, and visualizes it in an original way. It inventively showcases the struggle to push yourself out in the situation of inescapable duties of care for others on a weekend day, which should seemingly be a person’s day off. It viscerally plunges one into the abyss of shame when a woman at the center of the story explodes and offers deep insight into the complexities and struggles of preserving oneself.
ESFAA WINNER BY WIZ-ART AUDIENCE
PLEASE HOLD 23’, Solal Bouloudnine, France, 2025
Laurent and Sophie called on Gagu, the home furniture assembly specialist, to assemble the crib for little Lea, who is due in a few weeks. The installation is due to take just one hour, but Laurent and Sophie didn’t opt for the automatic departure option, and their “GaguMan” ends up spending more than an hour at their home…
UKRAINIAN FILM CRITICS GUILD SPECIAL MENTION
For a hilariously funny and sharply ironic (self-)reflection on the present state of Ukrainian cinema.
WAR FILM FESTIVAL 17′ Oleksandra Horiienko, Ukraine, Sweden 2026
A satirical mockumentary that explores how war turns into a convenient backdrop for self-promotion, with sensitive topics becoming a mere tool for the filmmakers’ careers.
UKRAINIAN FILM CRITICS GUILD SPECIAL MENTION
For a confident and convincing step into the profession of directing, expressed through a distinctive worldview and style.
ON A STRINGER 14′ Sashko Roshchyn, Ukraine 2026
At noon, in the shade of riverside trees — as if in the middle of life — you lose something. Yet love is as strong as the river. A man is going through abrupt changes in his life — personal and those caused by the war. He spends a day alone with the river, revisiting forgotten hobby – fishing. A sense of love and acceptance fills the man, but only for a brief moment — he must return to the war.
UKRAINIAN FILM CRITICS GUILD BEST FILM
For the virtuoso ability to transform the technologies of war into a living and compassionate being.
HOMECOMING 19′ Yarema Malashchuk, Roman Khimei, Ukraine 2026
A few years after fleeing Ukraine following the Russian invasion, a boy returns home via a robotic dog, his mechanical avatar, which he controls from his room in Poland. Through this remote presence, he relives memories and reconnects with his past — a connection that now depends on a fragile video stream that could be cut off at any moment.
Sincere congratulations to the winners and huge thanks to everyone who joined the 17th Wiz-Art.
The project is supported by Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.
Festival partners: ZMIN Foundation, Ukrainian State Film Agency, M-Rental, Morshynska, America House Lviv, Lviv City Council, Megogo, Morshynska, Lviv Film Hub, Suspilne Culture, Sebto Media, Zaxid.Net
