The Parajanov Award as an investment in the future of Ukrainian cinema
The National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine (NUCU) has announced that it is accepting submissions for the annual Serhiy Paradzhanov Award, one of the key awards aimed at developing young Ukrainian cinema.
The award was established on the 100th anniversary of Serhiy Paradzhanov's birth as a tool for creative support of new names in cinema and promotion of the strongest debuts in contemporary Ukrainian cinema. Its main goal is to create a space for recognition for directors who will shape the language of Ukrainian cinema in the coming years.
The NSCU notes that this year the award will be presented for professional feature-length debuts created in 2025. Thus, the award focuses specifically on the start of a film career — a stage that is often the most vulnerable for artists.
Submissions of films and nominations will be accepted until 30 January 2026 inclusive.
The works will be evaluated by a jury consisting of leading Ukrainian film critics, film experts, directors, cultural managers, and media professionals. Among them are Volodymyr Voitenko, Oksana Volosheniuk, Oleksandr Gusev, Andrii Kulikov, Yurii Morozov, Liudmyla Novikova, Oles Sanin, Philip Sotnychenko, Andrii Khalpakhchi, Serhii Cherevaty, and Mykola Ulyanov.
The award winners will receive a bronze copy of the "Parajanov thaler" — a symbolic art object created based on the "coins" that the director made in prison from materials at hand. This award symbolises creative freedom, the power of art, and the ability of culture to survive even in the harshest conditions.
The award ceremony is scheduled for March 2026, with the exact date to be announced later.
Parajanov Award, National Union of Cinematographers, Ukrainian cinema
