The animated film “I Died in Irpin” by Ukrainian director Anastasia Falileeva has won a prestigious award at the International Short Film Festival in Clermont-Ferrand, France.

“I Died in Irpin”: Best Animation of the Year

The film triumphed in the “Best International Animation - 2025” category.

“On February 24, 2022, my boyfriend and I left Kyiv for Irpin. We spent ten days in the besieged city and were able to escape with the last evacuation convoy. Time passes, but since then, I have this feeling that I died in Irpin”, − shares Falileeva.

The International Short Film Festival in Clermont-Ferrand is one of the most renowned in the world.

What is the film “I Died in Irpin” about?

“I Died in Irpin” is a personal reflection by the director on the ten days she spent in Irpin at the beginning of the full-scale war. The film highlights experiences of violence in her relationship with her boyfriend and her interactions with his parents.

This animated piece is drawn in charcoal. The creator explains that this material is as fragile as her memories.

“For me, that time in occupation felt like ten endless days blending into one. I could hardly recall what we did on this day versus that day − I only remember certain moments. Unfortunately, not all of them made it into the film, but the key ones did”, − emphasized Falileeva in an interview with Suspilne Culture.