The fiction film ‘Easter Day’ by Ukrainian director Mykola Zasieiev, about mobilisation, has been shortlisted for the European Film Awards in the Best Short Film category. This is stated on the awards’ website.
According to the synopsis, ‘Easter Day’ shows how, on Easter in Kyiv, two servicemen from the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centre, Petro and Andrii, slowly drive through the streets looking for men who can be called up for service. When they encounter a freelance IT worker, Sashko, he has two requests before they take him away: to stop by a shop to buy cat food and to have an Easter cake blessed.
According to Zasieiev, the film is based on real events and, in its original concept, was meant to be a comedy — but that was not enough for a successful script.
“We thought about celebrating Easter. Because in Ukraine everyone, even atheists, loves Easter,” Zasieiev explains. “This celebration allows us to place our character and his recruiters in a situation that brings them together. At that moment, the military system and the context of the war no longer matter.”
He adds that this ritual became a turning point that radically changed the film’s genre — from a comedy with absurd situations at the beginning to a moment of sincerity for the three men.
“While making this film, I realised that what truly interests me is how we manage to preserve our humanity in difficult circumstances,” Zasieiev shares.
The leading roles were played by Ivan Sharan, Serhii Korshykov, and Hryhorii Naumov.
The producers were Viktor Ede, Nataliia Libet, Olha Brehman, Oleksandra Bratyshchenko, and Viktor Shevchenko.
This year, ‘Easter Day’ won Best European Film at the Krakow Film Festival and also received the national film award ‘Golden Dzyga’ in the category of Best Short Fiction Film.
As a reminder, earlier the European Film Awards’ Short Film Shortlist included the Ukrainian animated film ‘Kyiv Cake’ by Mykyta Lyskov.
About Mykola Zasieiev:
- Ukrainian director, film editor, and screenwriter;
- his first short film, ‘Phase’, received a nomination for the ‘Golden Dzyga’ award in 2022;
- he is currently working on the feature film ‘Magic Mountain’.
About the European Film Awards:
- founded in 1988, an annual award presented by the European Film Academy for outstanding achievements in European cinema;
- all awards relate exclusively to European films, directors, and actors;
- the 39th awards ceremony will take place on 16 January 2027 in Athens.