Filming has wrapped on the feature film Dovzhenko. The Legend of Ukrainian Cinema — a project created in collaboration between Odesa Film Studio, the Dovzhenko National Film Studio, Odesa Film Production, and Maven, with the support of the Ukrainian State Film Agency.
The story unfolds in Odessa in 1926. The protagonist, a young Oleksandr Dovzhenko, arrives in the city to create his first film. At the heart of the plot is the clash between the artist's vision and the demands of Soviet ideology. With support from writer Yurii Yanovskyi, actress Ida Penzo, and film factory director Nechesa, Dovzhenko finds a way to realize a project that defies official constraints. The film is an international co-production. The final scenes were filmed in two key locations — Odesa’s central square and the Dovzhenko Film Studio in Kyiv.
"From the start, we planned to film in Odessa — on city streets, in studio pavilions, and various locations of the Odesa Film Studio. For our team, it was crucial that even in such challenging times, filmmaking continues in Odessa," said producer Hanna Docheva. "According to the script, Dovzhenko arrives in Odessa by train, so we needed to show the railway station. However, it proved difficult to find a location resembling the Odessa station of 1926. We planned to shoot at the VDNH complex in Kyiv, but those plans fell through at the last moment. In the end, we filmed the arrival scene right in the city center — near the Odesa City Council. Most of the filming took place at the Odesa Film Studio, but we also shot on Prymorskyi Boulevard, in the Botanical Garden, the Arkadia sanatorium, the Londonska Hotel, the Ukrainian Railway Museum in Kyiv, and, symbolically, wrapped production at the Oleksandr Dovzhenko Film Studio in Kyiv."
A significant portion of the shoot was carried out in Odessa. To create an authentic historical atmosphere, hundreds of extras were involved, and filming locations were styled to match the architecture and urban landscape of the 1920s. Authentic restored equipment from that era was used — analog cameras, lighting, and mechanical tools. A live jazz street orchestra performed during filming. Costumes were specially made for the film, with fabrics, cuts, and tailoring consistent with early 20th-century aesthetics.
“We’ve received very positive feedback on the teaser — both from Ukrainian audiences and international film professionals. Presenting the teaser at the Ukrainian pavilion during the 78th Cannes Film Festival was an important step for the project,” Docheva added.
The film's director is Kostiantyn Konovalov, who also co-authored the script along with Serhii Trymbach, Maksym Kurochkin, Andrii Osipov, and Liliia Molodetska. The production team includes: cinematographer Volodymyr Huievskyi, production designer Dmytro Sviatkin, costume designer Oksana Timonina, and makeup artist Serhii Maurin. Producers: Hanna Docheva, Andrii Nohin, Yurii Kalynovskyi, Yaroslav Pakholchuk, Vadym Makhomed, Oleksii Lymarenko, Ivan Lituha. Creative producer — Andrii Donchyk. Executive producer — Mariia Semenova.
