Children in the Fire

Children in the Fire
Film Poster
Directed byEvgeny Afineevsky[1]
Written byEvgeny Afineevsky[1]
Produced byEvgeny Afineevsky
Galyna Sadomtseva-Nabaranchuk
Kevin Goetz[1]
Release date
  • 2025 (2025)
Running time
108 minutes[1][2]
CountriesUnited States; Ukraine[2][3]
LanguageUkrainian[1]

Children in the Fire is a 2025 documentary film directed by Evgeny Afineevsky about Ukrainian children affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The film combines live-action footage with animated recreations and diary-style elements to present the experiences of young survivors.[1][4]

Synopsis

The film follows multiple Ukrainian children and teenagers whose lives were changed by the war,[5] including experiences of displacement, injury, and alleged abduction, and depicts their efforts to pursue education, athletics, performance, and civic aspirations amid ongoing conflict.[1][4][6]

Production

According to festival and event materials, Afineevsky traveled to Ukraine to document the lives of children affected by the invasion and used animation alongside live footage to depict lived and remembered experiences.[1][4] Monte-Carlo Television Festival materials credit the production to Unbroken Generation Production, Karandash Animation Studio, and PFX (Postproduction and Visual Effects Studio) as a Ukraine–United States co-production.[3]

Release

The film screened at the 2025 Raindance Film Festival in London and was listed as nominated for Best Documentary Feature, with scheduled festival showings in June 2025.[2][7] In the United States, the film had a North American premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival on 11 October 2025.[1] In Ukraine, Interfax-Ukraine reported a gala screening in October 2025 connected to the Odesa International Film Festival.[5] Additional public screenings with filmmaker Q&As were held at venues including the Wende Museum (October 2025).[4] KPBS listed a January 2026 screening and Q&A event in Carlsbad, California.[6] AwardsWatch included the film in its coverage of the 48th Mill Valley Film Festival lineup announcement in September 2025.[8]

In February 2025, Deadline published an interview feature on the documentary and its focus on the war's impact on Ukrainian children.[9]

Reception

Critical response

A U.S. outlet review covering the film's Mill Valley screening described the documentary as emotionally intense and noted Afineevsky's post-screening discussion with the audience.[10]

Accolades

At the 64th Monte-Carlo Television Festival (2025), Children in the Fire received the AMADE Prize and was also listed as the Jury Special Prize winner in the News & Documentaries category on the festival's laureates page.[3] Monaco Mediax (festival organizer) likewise reported the AMADE Prize award to the film.[11] Trade and festival-coverage outlets also reported the AMADE Prize recognition for the film in 2025.[12][13]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Cinema for Peace Awards 16 February 2026 Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Documentary of the Year Children in the Fire Pending [14][15]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Children in the Fire". Mill Valley Film Festival (CAFILM). 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b c Austin Hughes (26 May 2025). "This Year's Doc Features: The Best Stories Don't Need a Script". Raindance. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b c "2025 Winners". Monte-Carlo Television Festival. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d "Children in the Fire: Screening and Q&A with Director Evgeny Afineevsky". Wende Museum. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  5. ^ a b ""Children in the Fire" premieres in Ukraine at Odesa International Film Festival". Interfax-Ukraine (press release). 2 October 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  6. ^ a b "'Children in the Fire' Documentary Film". KPBS Public Media. 17 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Children in the Fire". Raindance Film Festival (Eventive). 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  8. ^ Erik Anderson (10 September 2025). "48th Mill Valley Film Festival Lineup: Cannes Winners, 'Hamnet,' 'Rental Family;' Spike Lee, Joel Edgerton, Zoey Deutch to Receive Honors". AwardsWatch. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  9. ^ Carey, Matthew (21 February 2025). "Ukraine's Children Documented In Evgeny Afineevsky's 'Children in the Fire'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  10. ^ Alexander Pham; Calvin Gundee. "Fiction and reality: two foreign films from the 48th annual Mill Valley Film Festival". The Pitch (Archbishop Williams High School). Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  11. ^ "An outstanding closing ceremony for the 64th Monte-Carlo Television Festival". Monaco Mediax. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  12. ^ "Monte-Carlo TV Festival 2025: "Children in the Fire" and "L'ange de Boutcha" to receive special prizes". Señal News. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Monte-Carlo Television Festival unveils winners of 2025 Special Prizes". Monaco Life. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  14. ^ Bizilj, Jaka (4 January 2026). "Cinema for Peace Unveils Nominees for 2026 & supports the people of Venezuela". Cinema for Peace Foundation. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  15. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (8 January 2026). "Cinema For Peace Gives Shoutout To Venezuelan Opposition Leaders As It Unveils 2026 Nominees Including Pope Leo, Jafar Panahi & Scarlett Johansson". Deadline. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
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