MYTH: Social Impact Film Award (1)

Festival start: 15 November 2025      Festival end: 15 November 2025

MYTH: Social Impact Film Award

MYTH: Social Impact Film Award is an international festival of socially important cinema with its heart in Ukraine, in Ivano-Frankivsk.

We were born during russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and we strive to become a platform of protest and a place of strength for those who believe: a film can change the world. Cinema must create new meanings and boldly expose injustice!

We welcome all anti-war stories and films that express solidarity with Ukraine.

We stand against all wars and condemn aggression, violations of human rights, the destruction of memory, nature, and peaceful life.

We oppose discrimination, racism, nazism, and communism, and we fully support Freedom and Humanity.

Our distinguished jury will carefully review each story and recognize the best in the following categories:

Best Director

Best Screenplay

Best Drama Short Film

Best Comedy Short Film

Best Cinematography

Best Actress / Actor

Impact Award

Special Awards:

Friend of Ukraine Award — for an international anti-war film that most strongly demonstrates solidarity with Ukraine. This award is a symbol of our gratitude to our international friends for their support and for their voices that condemn aggression.

Voice of Ukraine Award — for Ukrainian films that bring a new perspective on the Russo-Ukrainian war and on civilian life under bombardments. This award is an expression of gratitude and support for Ukrainian projects that become the voice of Ukraine abroad.

The war has taught us that sometimes a short film is the only way to make your voice heard around the world. That is why this season we focus on short films up to 30 minutes — documentary, fiction, or animation.

We offer free submissions for anti-war films ($0) and a modest fee of $7 for all other works, helping to cover organizational costs while keeping the festival accessible to independent filmmakers.

In addition, we will host a Q&A session with the festival winners, giving audiences a chance to connect directly with the filmmakers and learn more about the stories behind the films.

If your story is a protest, a challenge, or a tool for change — welcome to MYTH: Social Impact Film Award!

The selected films will be showcased at our intimate event in the "Vagabundo" Underground Passage, located at 7 Pylypa Orlyka Street, Ivano-Frankivsk, on November 15. Additionally, the event will be live-streamed on our social media channels.

Attention! We may reach out to you with a request to add Ukrainian subtitles to the film. We will be ready to help you with this.

Organized by
Public Organization
CinemaInvestCenter "MIF”

Categories & Awards
Jury Awards

- Best Director
- Best Screenplay
- Best Drama Short Film
- Best Comedy Short Film
- Best Animation Short Film
- Best Cinematography
- Best Actress / Actor

These categories are judged by the festival jury.

Special Awards

- Friend of Ukraine Award
For international films that demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine, an anti-war stance, and support for freedom and human dignity.
- Voice of Ukraine Award
For Ukrainian films that best convey social issues and the spirit of resistance.
- Impact Award
For the film that most inspires social change and draws attention to important issues.
- Audience Choice Award

- Best Script
MYTH: Social Impact Film Award is announcing a short film script competition. We are looking for powerful stories with a social theme that reflect the fight for freedom, humanity, and peace.

MYTH: Social Impact Film Award – Terms & Conditions


1. Eligibility

The festival accepts short films (up to 30 minutes) of any genre: documentary, fiction, or animation.

Main focus: socially impactful topics, including human rights, social issues, societal change, and ecology.

Films can be Ukrainian or international.

Any language is allowed, but English subtitles are required.


2. Submission Fees

Anti-war and pro-Ukraine films: free submission ($0).

All other works:

Early Bird: $5, until September 28

Standard Submission: $10, until October 10

Late Submission: $12, until October 15


3. Submission Requirements

Submissions are made via Festhome.

Films must be uploaded to Festhome.


Required materials:

Embedded English subtitles

Trailer and poster, plus several film stills

Short synopsis (up to 150 words)

Director/crew information

Technical requirements:

Resolution: 1920×1080p

File format: MP4


4. Rights & Legal

Submission confirms that the participant owns all rights to the film.

The festival is not responsible for any copyright infringement.

Filmmakers may opt out of online screening by contacting the organizers directly.

Participants grant the festival the right to use trailers, teasers, and other promotional materials for marketing and informational purposes.

The festival may use up to 3 minutes of the film in trailers, social media, and promotions without altering the content.


5. Selection & Screening

The festival jury reviews all submissions and selects finalists in the following categories:


Festival Jury

We are proud to announce that the jury of our festival consists of distinguished figures in film and culture. Their expertise and dedication guarantee a fair and insightful selection process. Their diverse backgrounds—from film directing and producing to music and cultural activism—ensure a comprehensive evaluation of every submission.

Olha Komanovska
People's Artist of Ukraine, actress at the Ivano-Frankivsk National Academic Drama Theater. She is also a director, casting director, film actress, and popular blogger. Her experience includes work on the film "You Will Understand One Day."

Rodion Volkov
Director, screenwriter, and producer, with over 20 feature and short, fiction and documentary screenplays to his name. He has produced several short films and directed the well-known works "You Will Understand One Day" and "Samolet" (Airplane).

Eduard Georgadze
A director and producer, he is the co-creator of the Oscar- and Emmy-nominated documentary "Winter on Fire." His internationally acclaimed work is distinguished by a unique approach to film and media.

Alen Anisimov
A Ukrainian cinematographer with extensive experience in film, television, and documentary filmmaking. His work is recognized for its creative visual storytelling and technical mastery.

Roman Dzundza
A conductor and Artistic Director of the Ivano-Frankivsk Philharmonic. He is also a filmmaker and producer of cultural projects that promote and preserve Ukrainian identity. His multifaceted experience combines the arts of music and cinema.

Rostyslav Shpuk
A Ukrainian writer, entrepreneur, public figure, and culture-bearer. He is the co-founder of the arts space "Vagabundo" in Ivano-Frankivsk, known for its work in promoting contemporary culture.

The diverse makeup of our jury, which includes experienced filmmakers and distinguished cultural figures, guarantees an objective and in-depth review of every submission.

Finalists will be selected in the following categories:

Best Director

Best Screenplay

Best Drama Short Film

Best Comedy Short Film

Best Animation Short Film

Best Cinematography

Best Actress / Actor

Special Awards:

Friend of Ukraine Award – for films demonstrating support for Ukraine

Voice of Change Award – for films highlighting social issues

Impact Award – for films with the greatest social impact

Audience Choice Award – determined by audience voting

Best Script

Selected films will be screened online on Vimeo (with filmmakers’ consent).


6. Audience Interaction

Viewers can vote for their favorite film for the Audience Choice Award.

A Q&A session with festival winners will follow the screening.


7. Dates

Early Bird Submission Deadline: September 15

Standard Submission Deadline: October 5

Late Submission Deadline: October 25

Finalists Announcement: November 14

Online Screening: November 15


8. Cancellation

Submission fees are non-refundable, whether the filmmaker withdraws or the film is not selected by the jury.


9. Privacy

This section is intentionally left blank for the festival to define its privacy policy.


10. Awards & Prizes

Our festival recognizes that the greatest award for a filmmaker is the acknowledgment of their work and the opportunity to share their creation with the world. Therefore, we offer winners not just prizes, but opportunities that will advance their careers and recognition within the industry.

Official Laurel Award: Every winner and official selection will receive an exclusive MYTH Social Impact Film Award laurel. This is a symbol of recognition for your talent, which you can use in your promotional materials, posters, and for future film presentations.

Q&A Session / Interview with Winners: We will provide winners with a unique opportunity to participate in a special Q&A session with jury members and other festival participants. This is a perfect platform for exchanging ideas, discussing your work, and receiving valuable feedback. We will also conduct exclusive interviews that will be published on our media resources.

Networking: Winners and festival participants will have the opportunity to connect with fellow filmmakers, other professionals, and our jury members. This is a vital component of any festival, opening doors for future collaborations and professional connections.

Extensive Exposure: We guarantee that materials about the winning films will be featured on the homepage of our official website and on the festival's social media pages. This will ensure maximum reach and sustained visibility for your film to our audience.

Symbolic Gifts: As a token of our appreciation and recognition, winners will also receive symbolic gifts that will serve as a unique memento of their triumph at the MYTH festival.

Audience Choice Award: An additional and highly valuable award will be the "Audience Choice Award," which will be determined by audience voting. This is a special form of recognition that highlights your film's ability to resonate with viewers and inspire the audience.


11. Participant Responsibility

Submission of inappropriate content is prohibited (pornography, calls for violence, racism, propaganda).