Babyn Yar film wins award at Cannes
Directed by Sergei Loznitsa and shot with the support of the new Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Centre, the film tells the story of the massacres in the forested ravine 80 years ago.
A film about the two-day Nazi massacre of 33,000 Ukrainian Jews at Babyn Yar near Kyiv has won the prestigious Cannes Film Festival’s Golden Eye Documentary Award.
Directed by Sergei Loznitsa and shot with the support of the new Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Centre, the documentary tells the story of the massacres in the forested ravine 80 years ago.
It was released earlier this month as part of the film festival’s build-up, with Ukrainian audiences first expected to see it in the autumn, during events to commemorate the 80th anniversary.
Based entirely on archive footage, the film reconstructs the events leading up to the organised killing of 33,771 Jews in German-occupied Kyiv on 29 and 30 September 1941, and what happened next.
Loznitsa said: “I hope this award lets us reach wider audiences worldwide and this film will be screened in Ukraine and will inspire a meaningful discussion. This is particularly important for the country.”
The Babyn Yar’s artistic director, Ilya Khrzhanovsky, said: “This film has received dozens of invitations to the world’s largest festivals, as well as distribution offers from streaming platforms and distributors.
“Audiences in different countries and continents will recognise the dangers of such hatred. The relevance of this film in our time is indisputable.”
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
