Ukrainian film to be screened at the most prestigious festival in Europe: what you need to know about "The Time Tape"

Kateryna Hornostai's documentary "The Time Tape" has been selected for the main program of the Berlin International Film Festival 2025. The film, which is in competition for the Golden Bear, immerses viewers in the realities of school life in Ukraine during the war.

The full list of the festival's participants is available on Variety's website. "The Time Tape has a special significance for Ukraine, as the last time Ukrainian films were included in the main program of the Berlinale was more than 25 years ago.

"Our film does not aim to tell the stories of its protagonists: it does not contain stories about them or interviews. Instead, "The Time Tape" will immerse the viewer in the life of Ukrainian schools during the ongoing war for an hour and a half," the filmmakers told Suspilne Culture.

The project was initiated by the Osvitoria NGO, which became the executive producer of the film. The film was created by 2Brave Productions.

"We want to remind the world that the war in Ukraine is ongoing, and its children and teachers are paying an excessive price for the opportunity to enjoy the basic human right to education," said Zoya Lytvyn, founder of Osvitoria.

Kateryna Hornostai, the film's director, admits that getting into the main competition of the Berlinale is a great responsibility, but also a dream for the filmmaker. "It's a great challenge that we are facing now. I'm scared because this is a platform where our film is among world-class names, it's very responsible," she added.

The film shows how the educational process continues in different parts of the country – from Cherkasy and Kharkiv to Borodianka and Bucha. However, the story is mostly built around a funeral in the town of Romny in Sumy region, where a school was destroyed by a direct hit and its staff was killed.

This project also won the Eurimages New Lab Outreach Award 2024. Thus, the team managed to win 30 thousand euros.

The Berlin International Film Festival is one of the most prestigious in Europe, and in 2025 it will take place from February 13 to 23. This is Kateryna Hornostai's second film to participate in the Berlinale – her previous work, "Stop Earth," won the Crystal Bear Award in 2021.

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