The Ukrainian documentary film Songs of Slow Burning Earth, directed by Olha Zhurba, has been shortlisted for the European Film Award for Best Documentary. The European Film Awards are among the most prestigious honors in European cinema, celebrating the finest films across the continent.
Songs of Slow Burning Earth offers a mosaic portrait of life in Ukraine during the first two years of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The film traces the transformations of a society moving beyond the initial panic of the early weeks of the big war and learning to live amid death and destruction that have become a tragic norm for Ukrainians.
The author of the film, Olha Zhurba, is a Ukrainian film director, editor, and screenwriter. This is her second feature-length documentary. In September 2025, she was awarded the Order of Princess Olga, Third Class awarded to women for outstanding achievements in state, public, cultural, and other social fields.
According to Zhurba, the European Film Academy awards hold particular significance because the nominees and winners are chosen by the members of the Academy. These film professionals and artists have first-hand knowledge of the intricacies of filmmaking and recognize the impact of art.
“The main goal of screening this film internationally is to dismantle the romanticized image of Russia that remains deeply rooted in the minds of many people around the world,” says Zhurba.
The world premiere of Olha Zhurba’s documentary Songs of Slow Burning Earth took place as part of the main program of the 81st Venice International Film Festival in 2024. Since then, the film has received numerous prestigious awards at major international festivals. It was named Best Film at the Riga International Film Festival (Latvia), Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (USA), One World International Documentary Film Festival in Prague (Czech Republic), and Docville International Film Festival (Belgium). At the Verzio International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival (Hungary), it received the Doc Future Award, and at Docudays UA, it was recognized as the Best Film in the national competition. At the Millennium Docs Against Gravity festival in Warsaw, the film received the Amnesty International Award, the First Appearance Award, and a Special Mention for Best Cinematography.
“The selection of Songs of Slow Burning Earth for the European Film Academy’s shortlist is already a major recognition of the work of the entire team,” says producer Darya Bassel.
The film is available on www.europeanfilmawards.eu for all EFA members across Europe starting October 14. Voting is open from October 22 to November 5 for all members of the European Film Academy, The nominations for the European Film Awards will be announced on November 18, 2025.
