Ukrainian documentary 'TO DIE TO LIVE' directed by Yuliia Hontaruk has been selected for the Baltic documentary competition program at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF). The film tells the stories of Ukrainian volunteers whose lives changed with the onset of Russian aggression in 2014 and how the full-scale invasion forced them to return to the fight once again. According to Wave RBC.UA, this is another important milestone in the film's international festival journey.

Anniversary 30th PÖFF Festival

The jubilee 30th PÖFF festival will take place from November 6 to 22, 2026, in Tallinn and Tartu, Estonia. The event is an A-category film festival and one of the largest cinematic events in Northern Europe. Participation in its competition program means the Ukrainian film has entered one of Europe's most prestigious film forums, boosting its international resonance following previous screenings.

Festival Journey: From Karlovy Vary to Odesa

The world premiere of 'TO DIE TO LIVE' took place at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Later, at the Odesa International Film Festival, the work won two awards: the Grand Prix and the award for Best Full-Length Documentary. On October 15, 2026, the film was also released in theaters in Slovakia. Thus, by the time of the Tallinn screening, the film already boasts a confirmed festival and theatrical history in several countries.

Three Heroes and Two Returns to War

At the center of the narrative are three Ukrainian volunteers who went to the front in 2014 when Russia launched its war against Ukraine. After enduring these experiences, they returned to peaceful life, but the war left a deep mark on each of them: the heroes must re-find their place in a world that remained unchanged for others, cope with losses, and find themselves after encountering death. When hope arises for restoring a normal life, Russia launches a full-scale invasion, and war returns to their lives once more, forcing the men to make a difficult choice. The film explores not only combat experience but also how war changes a person, affects their sense of life, and impacts their ability to return to peaceful existence.

International Coproduction and Team

“TO DIE TO LIVE” is an international project created in cooperation between Ukraine, Latvia, and Slovakia. The Ukrainian producer is the 'Babylon'13' creative community, which emerged at the beginning of the Revolution of Dignity in 2013; since then, the team has documented key events of contemporary Ukrainian history, tracked the course of the war, and told the international audience about its consequences. The project producers are Yuliia Hontaruk, Ivanna Khitsynska ('Queens of Joy'), Oleksandra Bratyshchenko ('Fragile Memory'), Uldis Cekulis (The Jump), Katarina Krnacova, and Igor Savchenko ('When Trees Fall').

Director's Stance

Yuliia Hontaruk notes that participating in the competition in Tallinn is of particular significance to the team. 'We are united by a common historical past, a striving for freedom and independence. And today, when the Russian threat is so close to the Baltic states, I find it very important to tell the stories of Ukrainian soldiers and our resistance,' says the director. According to her, selection for yet another A-category festival is an opportunity to present the international audience with the story of a generation of Ukrainians who have been fighting for independence since 2014 and continue to defend the country today.