Ukrainian director Denys Tarasov's film "Diagnosis: Dissent" won the top award in the OKO GLOBAL section at the International Ukrainian-Bulgarian Ethnographic Film Festival OKO.
The second part of the 5th International Ethnographic Film Festival took place in Sofia from November 8 to 15. Since 2023, the festival has been a joint venture between Ukraine and Bulgaria, with the first part held in Bolhrad from September 8 to 15.
The historical drama-thriller "Diagnosis: Dissent", which focuses on Soviet punitive psychiatry, received the OKO Jury Grand Prize for Best Feature Film.
Set in the 1970s, the film tells the story of a young man, Andriy Dovzhenko, who is sent to a so-called specialized psychiatric hospital due to his love for banned music. He must choose between cooperating with the KGB and returning to his family or exposing the truth about dissidents who fell victim to punitive psychiatry.
The director will receive a €1000 prize, a festival trophy, and a diploma. Cinematographer Yevhen Kirey and production designer Ivan Tyshchenko also received an award "for visual style and creating an authentic atmosphere that immerses viewers in the era of totalitarianism, enhancing the film's historical themes."
The International Ethnographic Film Festival OKO focuses on ethnography, folklore, anthropology, history, everyday life, cultural traditions, and significant events. Organizers describe OKO as a fusion of honoring traditions, discovering new things, and exploring current trends in the cultures of Ukraine, Bulgaria, and the world.
