“Adult” – a short film directed by 13 year old Elina Myshanych from Kyiv – has won the Grand Prix Award at the Lantern & Light International Children’s Film Festival (LLICFF).
The film poignantly and cleverly captures innocence lost because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Filmed last winter while Elina was unable to go to school because of Russian missile attacks on Kyiv, the film features Elina walking along the banks of the Dnipro River, with majestic, snow-covered Kyiv in the background, searching for her lost childhood.
This is the reality of the invasion for Ukraine’s children – air raid sirens in the middle of the night, “hedgehogs” on city streets; schooling and social contact disrupted; death and destruction daily events.
Check out the video for a short message from Elina and a clip from the film:
The Association of Ukrainians in Victoria is discussing a fund-raiser featuring Elina’s film and another Ukrainian short film “The Gift” which received Highly Commended and Best Performer Awards 18-25 at the festival.
We’ll keep you posted.
