Restored Ukrainian classic film Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors premieres in Kyiv
Restored film Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors will be shown in cinemas (screenshot)
The restored version of the film Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors will soon be released in wide Ukrainian distribution. A pre-premiere screening has already taken place in Kyiv. Here is what is known about the updated film and how the pre-screening went.
How the screening of the updated film went
The legendary film by director Serhii Paradzhanov shot at the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio, returned to the big screen on May 26, 2025, in Kyiv.
The event, which included representatives of the film industry, the cultural community, the media, and the general public, took place at the Ukrainian House.
The event symbolically connected the past and future of Ukrainian cinema — a masterpiece of Ukrainian poetic cinema once again came to life in a modern, high-quality format.
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors: What is known about the restoration
This is the result of many years of work by specialists, aimed not only at technical renewal but also at preserving the creative identity of the original. In particular, the signature color correction was preserved — the richness of red, and the depth of black and white tones.
A thorough sound cleaning was also done, allowing the film's atmosphere to be recreated with new precision.
The film stars Ivan Mykolaichuk and Larysa Kadochnikova, with cinematography by Yurii Illienko and music by Myroslav Skoryk.
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is considered one of the most significant works of Ukrainian cinema and is ranked among the 100 best Ukrainian films of all time.
In Kyiv, the updated version of Paradzhanov's film was shown (photo: press service)
When to watch Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors in Ukrainian cinemas
Starting from May 29, 2025, the film will be released in wide distribution. Currently, it has been taken up by only 60 cinemas across Ukraine, but the creative team and the film’s rights holder hope to expand the geography of the release.
Andrii Donchyk, general director of the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio, promised that the number of cinemas showing the film would increase.
"Viewers deserve to see this recognized masterpiece of Ukrainian cinema in high quality, with the finest details, color nuances, and musical accompaniment that bring back the full aesthetic power of Paradzhanov. For us, it is important to restore the film and return it to the audience as a living part of our culture," he said.
The Dovzhenko Film Studio, where the film was shot in 1964, is actively working on preserving and restoring Ukrainian film classics.
The project to restore Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is just one step in the studio's long-term strategy to return the national film heritage to a broad audience.
Restoration of other iconic films is being planned so that Ukrainian cinema can speak the language of the 21st century while preserving its original meaning.
The pre-premiere screening became possible thanks to the distributor Kinomania's support and the Ukrainian House partnership.
All evening attendees had the opportunity not only to be the first to see the restored version of the film but also to feel the depth of the artistic vision with which it was created over 60 years ago.
Previously, we wrote about three Ukrainian films everyone wants to watch.
