Nov 12-22, 2026
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Every Death Diminishes Me

Every Death Diminishes Me

Kozhna smert' zmenshuie mene
Sergii Bazhenov
Ukraine
2026
80 min
World Premiere
Luminous
Synopsis

If there had been no war, Ukrainian filmmaker Sergii Bazhenov would currently be directing his first romantic comedy. But now he underwent medical training and volunteered to work at the front, where he also films his comrades to document the war.

Former English teacher Olia is here to make a difference. Dutch veteran Roel wants to share his experience and reconnect with like-minded people. Combat medic Nikita creates psychedelic art in his spare time. Photographer Nastia once filmed theater shows, and now documents the dead and wounded. They discuss the meaning or meaninglessness of war and the importance of keeping Ukraine going. But at what cost?

In close-up and crystal-clear shots, we see them at checkpoints, in ambulances, and in shelters in dense forests. The bloodied wounded are patched up, dead bodies are recovered, and a possible main character is killed. Bazhenov also visits film festivals in European cities, where the beauty and peace stand in stark contrast to his daily reality, and his footage is received with indifference.

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Credits
80 min
color
DCP
Spoken languages: English, Ukrainian
Director
    Sergii Bazhenov
    Sergii Bazhenov
Production
    Inna Lastochkina for Trilobit Films LLC,
    Iuliia Gonchar for Trilobit Films LLC
    Inna Lastochkina for Trilobit Films LLC,
    Iuliia Gonchar for Trilobit Films LLC
Co-production
    Jerzy Rados for Gdynia Film Center
    Jerzy Rados for Gdynia Film Center
Cinematography
    Sergii Bazhenov
    Sergii Bazhenov
Editing
    Irena Banat
    Irena Banat
Sound Design
    Artem Mostovyy,
    Igor Kazmirchuk
    Artem Mostovyy,
    Igor Kazmirchuk
Music
    Olesia NFNR Onykiienko
    Olesia NFNR Onykiienko
Screening copy
    Sergii Bazhenov for Trilobit Films LLC
    Sergii Bazhenov for Trilobit Films LLC

Stills

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