Main image: screenshot of Gallery Norma documentary
The 16th Odesa International Film Festival (OIFF) has unveiled its official programme, with all screenings set to take place from September 24 to October 4 in Kyiv at the Zhovten and Oscar (Gulliver Mall) cinemas.
The festival’s “Odessa Accent” programme will feature a selection of documentaries and experimental films that explore the city’s rich artistic and cultural life.
One highlight is the documentary Gallery NORMA (2025, 75 minutes, Experimental, Ukraine), which examines the groundbreaking gallery that operated in Odesa from 2008 to 2011. Through interviews with participating artists, including Leonid Voitsekhov, Uta Kilter, Nikita Kadan, Stas Podlypskyi, and Ihor Husiev, the film presents a vivid portrait of Odessa’s underground art scene, full of absurdity, provocation, and creative energy.
The screening will take place on September 28 at 14:45 in the Anshlag Hall of Zhovten Cinema.
Another featured documentary, Domicile (2024, 48 minutes, Ukraine), captures the entrance of a building on Uspenska Street where renowned director Kira Muratova once lived. The walls, painted by Muratova’s husband, screenwriter and production designer Yevhen Holubenko, depict Odessa cats, dogs, and fantastical plants, bringing a unique piece of the city’s artistic heritage to life.
The film will screen on September 28 at 17:15 in the same venue.
The festival will also present When Lightning Flashes Over the Sea (2025, 124 minutes, Germany/Ukraine), a documentary by Eva Neiman and Kyrylo Krasovsky. The film tenderly portrays the lives of Odessa residents and their street cats, exploring their hopes and dreams amid the upheaval of war.
It is scheduled for October 1 at 14:30 in the Kinoman Hall of Zhovten Cinema.
Finally, I Don’t Want Others to Talk About Me (2024, 43 minutes, Ukraine) offers a reflective portrait of Kira Muratova herself, using excerpts from interviews spanning different periods of her career. The documentary honors the director’s own wish to be remembered through her films.
This screening will also take place on September 28 at 17:15 in the Anshlag Hall.
The 16th Odesa International Film Festival continues to showcase films that highlight the city’s unique cultural identity while connecting audiences with its artistic legacy and contemporary creative voices.
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