Overview
Molodist is Ukraine's only FIAPF-accredited film festival and one of the oldest film festivals in Eastern Europe. The 55th edition takes place October 24 to November 1, 2026 in Kyiv. The festival's name means "Youth" in Ukrainian, and its programming focus has remained consistent across five decades: debut films, student work, and early-career filmmakers. The festival programs approximately 200 films across its competitive and non-competitive sections.
The festival's Grand Prix is the Scythian Deer, awarded with $5,000 USD to the best film in the International Competition. Category winners receive $2,000 USD each. The National Competition winner receives 50,000 UAH. The festival covers travel and accommodation for selected directors: 4 nights of hotel for feature competition filmmakers, 3 nights for student and short competition filmmakers.
Molodist has continued to operate despite Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. The 54th edition in 2025 ran October 25 to November 2 in Kyiv, presenting approximately 200 films. The festival has maintained its FIAPF accreditation and international competition throughout the war, screening films in Kyiv while adhering to safety protocols.
The festival has a notable track record of discovering directors who later became internationally recognized. Filmmakers who had early work screened at Molodist include Tom Tykwer, Francois Ozon, Bruno Dumont, Danny Boyle, Ildiko Enyedi, Jacques Audiard, Xavier Dolan, and Stephen Daldry.
Submission Details
Molodist accepts submissions through FilmFreeway. Key details for the 55th edition (2026):
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Regular Deadline | July 15, 2026 |
| Extended Deadline | August 1, 2026 |
| Submission Fee Range | EUR 2 to EUR 50 (varies by category and deadline) |
| Notification Date | September 16, 2026 |
| Festival Dates | October 24 to November 1, 2026 |
| Eligibility Window | Films produced after January 1, 2025 |
| Submission Platform | FilmFreeway |
| Subtitle Requirement | English subtitles required |
Submission fees vary by category and deadline tier. Student film submissions are at the lower end of the fee range, while feature film submissions in the extended deadline are at the higher end. The festival does not return submission materials. Films must have English-language subtitles and detailed documentation in English.
Premiere Status Requirements
All international competition films must have Ukraine premiere status. Films that have been screened in Ukraine are not eligible for the International Competition, Student Competition, or Documentary Competition. The National Competition (for Ukrainian short films) is the exception: films that have been screened in Ukraine are eligible for this section.
Competition Sections
- International Competition: Student Films - student films under 45 minutes, produced after January 1, 2025
- International Competition: First Professional Short Films - first professional shorts (fiction, animation, documentary) under 45 minutes
- International Competition: First Professional Full-Length Fiction Films - first professional fiction features 60+ minutes
- Documentary Competition - first professional documentaries produced after January 1, 2025
- National Competition: Short Films - Ukrainian or co-produced shorts after January 1, 2025. Films previously screened in Ukraine are eligible
- Teen Screen Competition - full-length fiction films produced after January 1, 2025, about or for children aged 10 and above
Non-competitive sections include country-focused programs, film school showcases, thematic programs, retrospectives, and special events.
Awards and Prizes
- Grand Prix (Best Film of International Competition) - $5,000 USD plus the Scythian Deer statuette
- Best Film in each International Competition category (student, short, full-length) - $2,000 USD plus the Scythian Deer statuette
- Best Film of National Competition - 50,000 UAH plus the Scythian Deer statuette
- Best Documentary Film - $2,000 USD plus the Scythian Deer statuette
- Teen Screen Jury Award - $2,000 USD plus the Scythian Deer statuette
- Audience Award - Scythian Deer statuette
- Lifetime Achievement Award - Scythian Deer statuette, awarded by the Board of Directors
All prize amounts are stated before taxes. The festival does not pay screening fees for films selected for the International or National Competition. The festival has the right to screen selected films up to 3 times, with additional screenings by agreement.
Past Winners
Recent Grand Prix winners (Scythian Deer, $5,000 USD):
| Year | Edition | Grand Prix Winner | Director | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 54th | Weary (The Fatigued) | Yuriy Dunay | Ukraine |
| 2024 | 53rd | Honeymoon | Zhanna Ozirna | Ukraine |
| 2023 | 52nd | Love According to Dalva | Emmanuelle Nicot | Belgium |
| 2022 | 51st | Pamfir | Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk | Ukraine |
The 2025 winner Weary tells the story of two veterans overcoming war trauma. The 2024 winner Honeymoon premiered at Venice's Biennale College Cinema. The 2024 Best Full-Length Film All We Imagine As Light also won the Grand Prix at Cannes 2024. The 2023 winner Love According to Dalva premiered at Cannes Critics' Week. The 2022 winner Pamfir premiered at Cannes Directors' Fortnight.
Festival History
Molodist was founded in 1970 as a showcase for young Soviet filmmakers. The festival evolved through the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Ukraine's independence, maintaining its focus on debut cinema and student work throughout. It is the only film festival in Ukraine certified by FIAPF in the category of specialized film festivals.
The festival has operated continuously through Ukraine's political upheavals, including the 2014 Euromaidan revolution, the annexation of Crimea, and the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion that began in 2022. The 54th edition in 2025 ran in Kyiv despite wartime conditions, presenting approximately 200 films including works from Berlin, Cannes, Venice, and Karlovy Vary alongside debut films from around the world.
What Filmmakers Should Know
Molodist is specifically a debut and student film festival. If your film is not a first or early professional work, it is not eligible. Verify you are applying to the correct category.
The submission fee (EUR 2 to 50) is affordable for student and debut filmmakers. The festival covers hotel for selected directors (4 nights for features, 3 for student/short), reducing attendance costs.
The Grand Prix ($5,000) and category prizes ($2,000 each) are meaningful for debut filmmakers. The National Competition prize (50,000 UAH) is for Ukrainian productions.
The festival requires a Ukraine premiere for all international competition categories. Plan your Eastern European festival circuit accordingly.
The festival does not have an attached film market. Its value is in competition exposure, networking with Eastern European filmmakers and film schools, and the discovery platform for debut work.
The festival's continued operation during the war means security conditions in Kyiv should be monitored. Check current travel advisories before planning to attend in person.
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
- All We Imagine As Light (Payal Kapadia, France/India) - Cannes 2024 Grand Prix winner, then Molodist 2024 Best Full-Length Film. US distribution by Janus Films. UK distribution by BFI (streaming on BFI Player). Also selected at TIFF and NYFF.
- Love According to Dalva (Emmanuelle Nicot, Belgium/France) - Cannes 2022 Critics' Week premiere (FIPRESCI Prize), then Molodist 2023 Grand Prix. Also won Audience Award at IFFR Rotterdam 2023. UK theatrical release April 2023 via 606 Distribution. International sales by mk2 Films.
- Pamfir (Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, Ukraine) - Cannes 2022 Directors' Fortnight premiere, then Molodist 2022 Grand Prix. French theatrical release November 2022 (70,000+ viewers in France). Ukrainian theatrical release March 2023 via FILM.UA Distribution. Sold to Canada, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Greece, and other territories.
- Filmmakers who had early work screened at Molodist include Tom Tykwer, Francois Ozon, Bruno Dumont, Danny Boyle, Ildiko Enyedi, Jacques Audiard, Xavier Dolan, and Stephen Daldry.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
The three international competition categories are structured around career stage: student films, first professional shorts, and first professional features.
Student film submissions are at the lower end of the EUR 2 to 50 fee range.
A Ukraine premiere is required for all international competition categories. The National Competition for Ukrainian short films is the exception.
The festival covers hotel for selected directors, and the Grand Prix ($5,000) and category prizes ($2,000 each) are meaningful for debut filmmakers.
Industry Reputation Notes
Molodist is the only FIAPF-accredited festival in Ukraine, classified as a specialized festival for debut films and young cinema. This accreditation gives competition wins formal international recognition.
Compared to the Cottbus Film Festival (Germany), which focuses on Eastern European cinema more broadly, Molodist is specifically oriented toward debut work and has a longer history (founded 1970 vs. 1991). Compared to the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival (France), which is the world's largest short film festival, Molodist is smaller but offers a broader scope including feature debuts and student work.
The festival's continued operation during the war (screening films in Kyiv with safety protocols) has drawn international attention and solidarity. The 2024 Grand Prix winner Honeymoon by Zhanna Ozirna was set during the Russian invasion, reflecting how the festival has become a platform for Ukrainian wartime cinema.
The festival does not have an attached film market. Its value is in competition exposure, networking with Eastern European filmmakers and film schools, and the discovery platform for debut work.
Watch
See Also
Calculate your total festival submission costs and projected return using the Festival ROI Calculator. Estimate your acceptance probability with the Festival Acceptance Odds Estimator. For Ukrainian cinema and Eastern European film markets, see International Film Markets. For festival circuit strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. For the Odessa International Film Festival, see Odessa International Film Festival. Submit through Molodist on FilmFreeway.
