UFFB 2026: UKRAINE KNOWN UNKNOWN. BIRDS AND BEASTS. THE UNIVERSE OF HNIZDOVSKY

A whimsical documentary about renowned Ukrainian American artist Jacques Hnizdovsky, whose journey from displaced persons camps to international recognition echoes the experiences of modern Ukrainian emigrants. Told through the eyes of his beloved cat Jérôme, who travels from the United States to Ukraine to retrace his owner’s life and artistic legacy, the film reflects on identity, belonging, nature, and the search for home across generations shaped by displacement. Jacques Hnizdovsky, a Ukrainian American artist, spent much of his life between continents, shaped by war, migration, and artistic discovery. Decades later, his beloved cat Jérôme embarks on a symbolic journey from the United States to Ukraine, tracing the artist’s path and rediscovering his roots. Through archives, landscapes, artworks, and encounters, the film connects past and present, exploring themes of displacement, identity, and the meaning of home for Ukrainians across generations.