120 iconic films were saved at the Dovzhenko Film Studio
The Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio has moved 120 iconic films to a bomb shelter to protect them from potential risks during times of military threat. Students joined the effort, physically helping to carry and pack the archival materials. The film studio emphasizes that this is a part of cultural memory that must not be lost under any circumstances.
In Kyiv, on the grounds of the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio, part of the archive—which holds historical and cultural value for Ukrainian cinema—was evacuated. This includes 120 films considered landmark works for the studio and Ukrainian cinema as a whole, which were moved to a more secure location.
According to the studio, the films were moved to a bomb shelter to minimize the risk of loss or damage. In a statement, the film studio emphasized: “Yesterday, we saved what is most valuable—the studio’s films. 120 landmark films were moved to a bomb shelter.”
The work was carried out not only by studio employees but also by students from the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts who are studying film and television directing in Andriy Donchik’s workshop. They were involved in the process to gain practical experience working with film materials and archives, which is particularly valuable in real-world conditions.
In the film industry, such relocations of archives are considered a necessary, albeit unavoidable, step, as film and digital media are sensitive to moisture, temperature, and physical damage. In the case of the Dovzhenko Film Studio, these materials are part of the history of Ukrainian cinema and form the cultural heritage of several generations of viewers and filmmakers.
In fact, this is not just about the technical preservation of films, but also about protecting a cultural layer that is significant for national memory. That is precisely why such operations are carried out with the utmost care and often with the help of additional staff and specialists. The film studio announced this on Facebook.
