Ukrainian movie "Traces" wins award at Norwegian festival, prize money to go to survivors of sexual violence
In their decision, the jury emphasised the importance of personal stories in showing serious human rights violations. According to the jury, sharing these experiences can:
The film centres on the story of Iryna Dovhan, a former captive who became an activist and documents the testimonies of women who survived violence in Ukraine's de-occupied territories. The filmmakers also focus on a community of survivors who have chosen not to remain silent about their experiences. The community helps women come together, share their stories and support one another in their pursuit of justice.
The BIFF award marks another international recognition of the directors' work.
The TRACES team announced on Facebook that the prize money from the Norwegian festival would be donated to SEMA Ukraine, an organization that supports Ukrainian women who have survived sexual violence.
The filmmakers emphasised the particular significance of the award, as they worked on the film in close collaboration with women from SEMA Ukraine. Their voices, courage and solidarity became the foundation of the documentary.
"We believe in the power of documentary filmmaking not only to draw attention to problems, but also to bring people together and drive real change," the TRACES team said.
As Rubryka reported, Ukraine's Oscar Selection Committee chose Traces as the country's submission for the 99th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. This year's selection was a difficult one, with eight films entering the national selection. The committee described Traces as "an honest and profound documentary."
The shortlist of 15 films in the Best International Feature Film category is scheduled to be announced on December 15, 2026. The five nominees will be revealed on January 21, 2027, and the 99th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on March 14, 2027.
In February 2026, Traces won the Audience Award in the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). The film also received recognition at the Movies That Matter documentary film festival in the Netherlands.
In addition, Traces was named one of the top 20 audience favourites at the Hot Docs documentary film festival in Toronto. The film premiered in Ukraine at Docudays UA. In 2025, the project also won the proMOTION programme run by the Ukrainian Institute and Eurimages.
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25 of October 2026
