Ukrainian documentary Kuba & Alaska has won the award for Best Documentary Film at the 2025 Festa del Cinema di Roma, marking a historic achievement as the first-ever recipient of the festival’s newly introduced documentary prize.
Directed by Yehor Troyanovskyi, Kuba & Alaska tells the story of two female combat medics—Yuliia “Kuba” Sidorova and Oleksandra “Alaska” Lysyska—who save lives on the front lines while holding on to their humanity, humor, and hope amidst the brutal realities of war.
Yuliia, a paramedic and fashion designer from Kharkiv, first served during the 2014 Maidan protests and later joined the Hospitallers. Oleksandra, a former journalist from Odesa, enlisted after the full-scale invasion and now serves in the National Guard, supporting veteran reintegration following an injury in combat.
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CategoryCultureUkraine’s Most Gut-Wrenching War Stories Just Hit the Big Screen at Docudays UA
Jun 19, 2025 16:39
Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture, Tetyana Berezhna, praised the film’s success, stating:
“Every screening of a Ukrainian film abroad strengthens Ukraine’s voice on the international stage. It is a chance to tell the truth about Russia’s war against Ukraine and the resilience of our people. The victory of Kuba & Alaska in Rome proves the professionalism, quality, and depth of Ukrainian cinema.”
The film, a co-production between Ukraine, Belgium, and France, had its world premiere at the Sheffield DocFest in the UK and previously won both the Jury Prize and Audience Award at the Brussels International Film Festival.
Previously, it was reported that London’s Barbican Centre hosed a series of screenings highlighting Ukrainian cinema, presenting works that span different eras of the country’s history.
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