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    • NTC Award Ceremony
      New Talent Competition gives young filmmakers from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe the opportunity to present their outstanding debut or second film to the public. Join us on Sunday 1 December at 19h
    • Music at ENFF
      The Eastern Neighbours Film Festival welcomes special musical guests each year to enrich our program. For this 16th edition, we’re thrilled to present two talented young musicians: guitarist Antonio Peršak (CR) and violinist İdil Yunkuş (TR). Together, they will perform a traditional Balkan dance and folk song, highlighting the beauty of this music through the… Read more: Music at ENFF
    • Masterclass with Janez Burger
      This masterclass presents a unique opportunity to explore Burger's distinct storytelling style, genre use, and exploration of contemporary social issues. Join us on Saturday 30 November at 17h - Room 5
    • Panel Discussion: Exploration of individual and collective memory in cinema
      Panel Discussion: Exploration of individual and collective memory in cinema on Friday 29 November at 18h

The Wonderful Years

DirectorSvitlana Shymko/Galina Yarmanova
ProducerElla Shtyka, Olha Reiter – Lviv Film Commission, Indie Lab
EditorSvitlana Shymko
SoundVladyslav Sirenko, Roman Gomenyuk
ScreeningFriday 9 November | 17:15 hours | Filmhuis Den Haag
Sunday 11 November | 12:30 hours | Filmhuis Den Haag
Sunday 11 November | 17:00 hours | Theatar Dakota
Original TitleSHCHASLYVI ROKY
Year2018
Length9 min
CountryUkraine
SubtitlesEnglish
SectionDOCUMENTARIES OPEN DEBATES

An unique exploration into the lives of queer women in Ukraine in the late Soviet Union, based on the archive video materials and interview excerpts.

Synopsis

“The Wonderful Years” is a short documentary film which explores the lives of queer women in Ukraine in the late Soviet Union. It is based on the archive video materials from the Center for Urban History of Central East Europe in Lviv and interview excerpts from the research projects “Sexuality under Globalization” (2005-2006), “Being a Lesbian in Ukraine: Gaining Power” (2007), and “LGBT Families in Ukraine: Social Practices and Legislative Regulations” (2011-2012). Winner of Special Jury Diploma at the Molodist International Film Festival in Kiev for its subtle display of an unknown world.

Director’s bio

Svitlana Shymko is an independent director, a graduate of the DocNomads International MA program in documentary film directing. Her short films were shown and received awards at numerous international film festivals. She is working on developing political, social, and feminist topics in documentary. Filmography: The Wonderful Years (2018), The Fall of Lenin (2017), Lost (2016), The Doctor Leaves Last (2014).

Galina Yarmanova is an independent researcher, graduate of an international MA program in Gender Studies in Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. She teaches courses on gender, sexuality and feminism in Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Her research interests include topics on reproduction and sexual rights, moral panics of sexuality, influence of nationalism and imperialism on current sexual politics in Ukraine. Filmography: The Wonderful Years (2018).