Prairie Ukrainian Film Festival (PUFF)
June 15–18, 2023

Saskatoon’s first Ukrainian film festival, PUFF will showcase six acclaimed contemporary Ukrainian films over the course of four days, from June 15 to June 18, at Remai Modern. Inspiring and gripping, these six Ukrainian films explore many aspects of Ukraine’s past and present and tell challenging stories of resilience and fragility, bravery and tenderness, determination and affliction, and love and friendship.

Where: Remai Modern SaskTel Theatre (102 Spadina Crescent E, Saskatoon, Canada).
Admission: Free, Everyone welcome

Festival curator: Dr. Oksana Dudko, The Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage at St. Thomas More College

Organizers:
The Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage at St. Thomas More College in partnership with the Ukrainian Museum of Canada and Remai Modern

For more information, please visit www.puffsaskatoon.com

~
Schedule:

Thursday, June 15
4:00 PM: My Thoughts are Silent
7:00 PM: Pamfir

Friday, June 16
4:00 PM: We Will Not Fade Away

Saturday, June 17
10:15 AM: Stop-Zemlia

Sunday, June 18
1:00 PM: Homeward
3:00 PM: Klondike

All films have English Subtitles.

~
Thursday, June 15
4:00 PM: My Thoughts are Silent (2019, Directed by Antonio Lukich): A tragicomic story of a Kyiv sound artist who dreams of a better life in Canada. Winner of FIPRESCI, Golden Duke and Special Jury Mention at the 2019 Odesa International Film Festival.

7:00 PM: Pamfir (2022, Directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk): A family drama and thriller about a reformed smuggler who returns to western Ukraine on the eve of Malanka, Ukrainian New Year’s Eve.

Friday, June 16
4:00 PM: We Will Not Fade Away (2023, Directed by Alisa Kovalenko): A documentary that follows the adolescence of Andriy, Ruslan, Ilya, Lisa and Lera in the Donbas region of Ukraine, where bombings can always be heard in the distance.

Saturday, June 17
10:15 AM: Stop-Zemlia (2021, Directed by Kateryna Gornostai): An emotional and multi-layered portrait of contemporary youth in Kyiv, which seamlessly flows between fiction and documentary. Winner of 11 international awards & 5 nominations.

Sunday, June 18
1:00 PM: Homeward (2019, Directed by Nariman Aliev): Having lost his elder son in the war, Mustafa has to transfer his dead body to his homeland – Crimea. Nominated for the Golden Camera and Un Certain Regard Awards at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.

3:00 PM: Klondike (2022, Directed by Maryna Er Gorbach): The story of a Ukrainian family living on the border of Russia and Ukraine during the start of the war. Irka, who is pregnant, refuses to leave her house even as the village gets captured by armed forces. This film was Ukraine’s official entry for the best international feature film at the 95th Academy Awards. Winner of 39 International awards including the Sundance Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festiva, and International Istanbul Film Festival.

~

About Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage at St. Thomas More College:
The Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage at St. Thomas More College is a leading institution dedicated to the study and promotion of Ukrainian heritage and culture. The centre fosters research, education, and community engagement, ensuring the preservation and celebration of Ukrainian heritage in the Prairie region.

About Ukrainian Museum of Canada: The Ukrainian Museum of Canada in Saskatoon is North American’s oldest Ukrainian museum. It is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Ukrainian heritage as a living culture. Located at the base of the University Bridge in downtown Saskatoon, the museum showcases a wide range of artifacts, artworks, exhibitions, and workshops, offering visitors an immersive experience into Ukrainian history, art, and traditions in Canada, Ukraine, and the greater diaspora.

About Remai Modern: Remai Modern is located in River Landing in downtown Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The museum is committed to presenting contemporary art from local, national, and international artists, fostering critical conversations and artistic exploration. Through its exhibitions and programs, Remai Modern contributes to the cultural landscape of Saskatoon, enriching the community’s understanding and appreciation of contemporary art.