The short film 'Silence' by Ukrainian director Pavlo Shpegun received the first-ever Airone della Laguna – International Collateral Award at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. According to Wave RBC.UA, this distinction was established for the first time this year, and it was the Ukrainian film that became its first winner. The picture was presented in the Orizzonti Short Films international competition, where 13 short works from various countries around the world competed this year.
A New Award for New Voices in World Cinema
Airone della Laguna – International Collateral Award is positioned as an international prize aimed at supporting directors of the new generation, unconventional cinematic approaches, and new voices in world cinema. The award is given to films distinguished by originality of concept, innovative storytelling, expressive visual language, and work on relevant contemporary themes. This year, the winner was chosen exclusively among the films of the Orizzonti section of the Venice Film Festival, which underscores the curatorial rather than mass character of the prize.
An Intimate Story of Silence and Closeness
'Silence' is an intimate psychological story about closeness, loss, and moments when silence can say more than words. The main character Luka is a young stand-up comedian who, after a failed performance, meets a mysterious girl in a bar. They spend the night together, talking about loneliness, pain, and the losses they have experienced, trying not to cross each other's personal boundaries. Gradually the conversation changes, and when words can no longer convey what is happening between the characters, silence arrives — the very silence that gave the film its name. The lead roles were played by Hryhoriy Naumov and Yolanta Bohdiun.
The ForeFilms Team and Production
The film was made with the participation of the Ukrainian film production company ForeFilms. The team included producers Anna Yatsenko, Volodymyr Yatsenko, Inna Lastochkina, and Pavlo Shpegun himself. The cinematographer was Mykhailo Liubarskyi, the production designer was Vlad Odudenko, and the editing director was Yuriy Katynskyi. The line producer was Kyrylo Rybiantsiv, the sound designer was Serhiy Stepanskyi, and the costume and makeup designer was Yevheniia Slobodianyk. The film's co-producer and ForeFilms producer noted: 'It is very important to us that the first-ever Airone della Laguna award went to a Ukrainian film. Just a few months ago, "Silence" was a small debut project, and today it is being heard in Venice and receiving international recognition.'
ForeFilms on the Venice Stage: Not the First Time
Participation in the Venice Film Festival was not a debut for the ForeFilms production company. The company's films had previously been represented in the festival's competitive programs, in particular Antonio Lukich's 'Luxembourg, Luxembourg' and Valentyn Vasyanovych's 'Reflection'. Thus, 'Silence' continues the line of Ukrainian independent cinema, which over recent years has been confidently making its mark on the world's major stages. For the ForeFilms team, the victory in Venice became yet another confirmation of their strategy of supporting young directors and helping them reach an international audience.
