The long read · Ukrainian cinema
The Resilience of Ukrainian Cinema and Its Global Stars
Ukraine gave cinema one of its first great poets, Oleksandr Dovzhenko, one of its most dazzling visionaries, Serhii Parajanov, and the most famous staircase in film history. Here is the story of Ukrainian cinema, and where to watch in Kyiv.
Updated November 2026
From Dovzhenko to Parajanov
Oleksandr Dovzhenko’s Earth (1930), a hymn to the Ukrainian countryside, is still counted among the greatest films ever made, and the Kyiv film studio now bears his name. In Odesa the great staircase down to the port became immortal in Sergei Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin (1925).
In 1965 Serhii Parajanov made Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors at the Kyiv studio, a blaze of colour and music from the Carpathian mountains. Kira Muratova made her bold films in Odesa, and Larisa Shepitko, born in Ukraine, won the Golden Bear for The Ascent in 1977.
Must-watch films
To understand Ukrainian cinema, start with these.
- Earth (1930): Oleksandr Dovzhenko’s poem of village life.
- Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965): Serhii Parajanov’s Carpathian love story.
- The Tribe (2014): Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi’s drama told entirely in sign language, winner of the Grand Prix of Critics’ Week at Cannes.
- 20 Days in Mariupol (2023): Mstyslav Chernov’s documentary from the besieged city, winner of the Oscar.
The stars
Ukraine has given the screen stars from the silent era to Hollywood today.
- Vera Kholodnaya (1893–1919): born in Poltava, the first great star of the silent screen in the Russian Empire.
- Milla Jovovich: born in Kyiv, the star of The Fifth Element.
- Mila Kunis: born in Chernivtsi, from That ’70s Show to Black Swan.
- Olga Kurylenko: born in Berdyansk, a Bond girl in Quantum of Solace.
Where to watch in Kyiv
In Kyiv, the Dovzhenko Centre keeps the national film archive and holds screenings and exhibitions, and Planeta Kino shows the latest films.
Our advice: check the Dovzhenko Centre’s programme for a classic on the big screen.
Ukrainian cinema today
Since 2022 Ukrainian film-makers have kept working through the war, and their films have been shown at Cannes, Berlin, Venice and Sundance. Mstyslav Chernov’s 20 Days in Mariupol won the Oscar for best documentary in 2024.
Questions and answers
What is Ukraine’s most famous film?
Many would choose Oleksandr Dovzhenko’s Earth (1930) or Serhii Parajanov’s Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965).
Where are the Odesa steps from Battleship Potemkin?
The Potemkin Stairs lead down from the old town of Odesa to the port.
Join the conversation
Which Ukrainian film or star do you love most? Share your favourite scenes and the films we should add.
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Sources: the Dovzhenko Centre, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Berlinale and the Festival de Cannes, checked on 6 November 2026. No trailers are embedded on this page.