Screen School student selected for Ukraine festival jury
- Written byBen Sutherland
- Published date 06 December 2023
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The BA (Hons) Film and Screen Studies degree offered at London College of Communication (LCC) teaches critical analysis of film to the next generation of filmmakers and influencers.
And one of those putting the influence in influencer is Sonya Vseliubska, a second-year student, - who was on the jury of the Kyiv Short Film Festival, held in November 2023.
The festival - which this year had the theme of 'Human After All', and stories of how our lives are "hovering somewhere between AI technologies and the deep memories of the past" - not only curates and showcases short movies from across Ukraine, but also features numerous industry professionals giving talks on subjects such as pitching, using AI and creating films in a conflict zone.
Vseliubska is a professional film critic and journalist outside of the course, which explores film and screen narrative from the cinematic, historic, national, geographic, genre, ethnic and diversity perspectives.
Specifically, BA (Hons) Film and Screen Studies is not a film production degree, but rather one that teaches the global history of the moving image and screen practices through a combination of contextual theory units and practical workshops - alongside contemporary immersive and interactive platforms.
We caught up with Vseliubska to discuss her time on the jury, working as a critic and what makes a good short film...
What is your background?
I am Ukrainian and have been working as a professional film critic for almost 2 years. During this time, I have published over 60 texts in various formats and have publications in leading Ukrainian media - from 7,000-word texts about Jean Cocteau's early films to feature-interviews with big stars like Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Adam Driver.
At the same time, I love interviewing young Ukrainian filmmakers. I adore film festivals and think I would be nothing without them. I have a huge stack of badges from them at home, and I'm always ready to spend my last money on such journeys.
How did you discover your love for film?
I don't have a romantic story about watching iconic cinema on the sofa with my parents.
I grew up in Donbas, and my childhood coincided with the boom of pirate distribution, so my early love for cinema was built on Disney on VHS and B-category gangster films that my father took me to see without reading the synopses.
Later, as a teenager, I had unlimited internet access and began watching movies in large quantities: silent films, noir, westerns, arthouse, as well as catching up on mainstream gaps.
I was searching for myself, and eventually found it. I never abandoned any movie or book about the cinema I started, unlike all the other hobbies I tried.
What attracted you to studying film at LCC?
I hate the process of film directing - I have made 6 short films, but the technical side of production is exhausting. It's just not for me.
However, I discovered that, at LCC, I can study film as an art form.
I'm still getting acquainted with the British education system - its complete freedom and the vast amount of independent study hours, so I always have time to spend in the library between the film studies bookshelves.
My course is not only about cinema but also about studying video art. This is cool because globally, it's an inseparable part of our culture.
As a huge name in global educational discourse, I think it's brave of UAL to focus on theoretical study, which is still rare worldwide.
How did you end up on the jury for the Kyiv Short Film Festival?
A few months ago, I noticed that I had advanced significantly in my career and decided to apply for the Ukrainian film critics community.
I was accepted, which not only gave me another prestigious prefix in my CV but also the opportunity to participate in festivals and voting, which can enhance my level of press badge in European festivals. There are a lot of opportunities, so I decided to start using them.
At Ukrainian festivals, there's often a parallel jury from the community of film critics, and when Kyiv Short Film Festival was approaching, I immediately expressed interest.
It's a very prestigious and cool festival, with organisers bringing in worthy films for both in and out of the competition.
What has being chosen to be on the jury meant to you?
Let’s be honest - it's about ego. It is good proof that my opinion is important to someone, and now I have fewer reasons to suffer from imposter syndrome!
But also, unlike many of my colleagues, I'm not in Ukraine. I feel that I'm missing out on the scene due to my physical absence. This gives me the opportunity to participate - even remotely - and stay in the cultural context.
The films we awarded have an interesting common detail - they are parodying documentary cinema. I think this is a good description of the world and our media right now.
In your view, what makes a great short film?
A good short film concisely conveys a story. It's very hard.
All directors develop their careers from shorts. I would say that it's very important for a director to bring a unique trace of their style.
It's not necessary to come up with something super-original and innovative. Sometimes cinematic language and simple sincerity are more than enough.
Film - whether short or feature - is all about the desire to convey a specific message, to invite the audience to a dialogue. These kinds of films win festivals.
How has Ukraine's film industry continued despite the war?
This is an absolutely endless topic that deserves a series of lectures and context, but I’ll try to briefly outline my thoughts.
Since 2014, Ukrainian society has shown an unprecedented interest and support for its culture and traditions. The last few years have seen a series of very diverse and talented films that win awards at leading festivals around the world and have been bought by Netflix.
The pain of Ukrainian talent has transformed into a force – stripping our culture from imperial influences.
Despite the occupation of territories, constant shelling and a lack of funds, festivals are not just being held in Ukraine, but new ones are also being born.
Related links:
- Learn more about the Kyiv Short Film Festival.
- Learn more about studying BA (Hons) Film and Screen Studies at LCC.
- Find out more about our Screen School.
