The documentary film Songs of Slow Burning Earth has officially been shortlisted for the 38th European Film Awards. The Ukrainian production received nominations in two categories — European Documentary Film and European Film, according to a Facebook post by the Ukrainian Institute.
Songs of Slow Burning Earth is a documentary mosaic portraying life in Ukraine during the first years of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The film is directed by Ukrainian filmmaker, editor, and screenwriter Olha Zhurba, for whom this is her second feature-length documentary. The film began its festival journey in 2024 at the Venice International Film Festival and has since garnered significant international attention.
The European Film Awards are among Europe’s most prestigious film honours, presented annually for outstanding achievements in European and world cinema. In October, the film was shortlisted for the award and, following a voting process, advanced to the final list of nominees.
The next round of voting will run from 15 December 2025 to 8 January 2026. The award ceremony will take place on 17 January 2026 in Berlin.
Songs of Slow Burning Earth was produced by the Ukrainian film company Moon Man in co-production with international partners: Final Cut for Real (Denmark), We Have a Plan (Sweden), ARTE France (France), and Film i Skåne AB (Sweden). The film’s promotion to international audiences during its world premiere was supported by the Ukrainian Institute.