Ukrainian director Zhanna Ozirna has been honored with the ‘Build Your Dream’ award at the Cannes Film Festival for her feature debut, ‘Honeymoon.’ The announcement was confirmed by the film’s producer, Dmytro Sukhanov, via his official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sukhanov.dmytro/posts/pfbid024ucavfK55ZME2JwmMVKjd4JQNYk3vmSeZLofqhZwLnBKVWZtJ3pDNhvr5G5ou64kl.
The ‘Build Your Dream’ award, established by Mediawan in collaboration with BYD, is designed to support emerging filmmakers. Ozirna’s film was selected as one of the 15 best foreign debuts released in French theaters over the past year. The €46,000 prize will provide critical funding for her future projects, including the historical drama ‘Lower Horizon’ and a feature titled ‘Intimacy,’ which explores the journey of veterans adapting to post-war life.
‘Honeymoon’ depicts the harrowing experience of a young couple, Taras and Olya, who find themselves trapped in their new apartment near Kyiv during the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion. For five days, they endure isolation without electricity, water, or reliable communication. Ozirna describes the film as a meditation on how a generation of creative individuals copes when their familiar world collapses. The project has already gained international acclaim, having premiered at the Venice Film Festival and received the Grand Prix at the Kyiv International Film Festival ‘Molodist,’ where jury president Mohammad Rasoulof praised the film for its insightful and moving portrayal of love amidst terror.
Ozirna’s success serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of Ukrainian culture. Despite the ongoing war, Ukrainian artists continue to gain international recognition, proving that personal, intimate storytelling can resonate with global audiences. By capturing the delicate interplay between personal relationships and the brutality of conflict, Ozirna has cemented her place as a significant voice in modern cinema. This international support not only bolsters her career but also keeps the global spotlight fixed on the Ukrainian experience, ensuring that the human stories behind the headlines are seen and heard on the world’s most prestigious stages.