“I Died in Irpin” Anastasiia Falileieva transforms her own story of the early days of the full-scale invasion into an 11-minute animated documentary that blends charcoal animation on paper and personal archives to convey the disorientation of trauma.
Through a personal voice-over and non-linear imagery, the film explores how memory fractures under extreme stress, positioning animation as both testimony and a call for justice.
Coproduced by MAUR film (CZ), Artichoke (SK), and Plastic Bag Studio (UA), it has received awards and selections at the most important film festivals worldwide, including Clermont-Ferrand, Annecy, OIAF, BIAF, and many others.
“I Died in Irpin” became a festival hit and has been qualified for Oskars 2026 through winning Bucheon Animated film festival and Cinanima Animated film festival Grand prizes.
More at https://www.maurfilm.com/portfolio-items/i-died-in-irpin_en
Some of Jury statements
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival (Award for Best Animation)
The competition jury bestowed the Award for Best Animation on I Died in Irpin, highlighting its “powerful evocation of survival and memory in wartime.” Animation Magazine
Pragueshorts (National Competition)
“The director and her protagonist, with relentless insight, microscopic precision, extraordinary readiness, and dark, feline humor, examine the human condition at a time when the surrounding world is collapsing…” maurfilm.com
“The film is an imaginative and personal mosaic of various types of animation.” maurfilm.com
Ottawa International Animation Festival (Best Script Award)
“The film reflects on the traumatic events that the author had to go through again and again, to tell her story of sacrifice, persistence, and resistance.” animationfestival.ca
“For the bravery to share this intimate recount in her own voice.” animationfestival.ca
REX Animation Film Festival (EUNIC Selection)
“An important and captivating story combined with a well balanced mix of expressive hand drawn animation and filmed footage.” REX Animation Film Festival 2024
“Excellent from beginning to end.” REX Animation Film Festival 2024
“The winner of the EUNIC selection is I died in Irpin by Anastasiia Falileieva.” REX Animation Film Festival 2024
Bucheon International Animation Festival (BIAF 2024)
Jury member Flóra Anna Buda praised it as “an outstanding work that powerfully portrays the physical and emotional pain of war through the intense technique of charcoal animation.”
LINOLEUM Contemporary Animation & Media Art Festival (International Competition)
The Grand Prix jury (including Marta Magnuska, Ninke Deutz and Malte Stein) awarded I Died in Irpin the top prize, recognizing it as “an intensely personal work that reflects on ten days under siege through a single medium—charcoal—underscoring its raw immediacy.”
Premiers Plans d’Angers (European Shorts – Grand Jury Prize)
The festival’s Grand Jury selected I Died in Irpin as the winner of the European Shorts competition, noting its “unflinching reconstruction of personal trauma through innovative animated documentary.”
Interviews and mentions of "I Died in Irpin" in Ukrainian media
«Коли знімаю стоп-моушн — ніби зливаюся з лялькою» (Detector.Media):
https://detector.media/infospace/article/231890/2024-09-09-koly-znimayu-stop-moushn-niby-zlyvayusya-z-lyalkoyu-rezhyserka-animatsii-anastasiya-falileieva/ detector.media
https://detector.media/infospace/article/231890/2024-09-09-koly-znimayu-stop-moushn-niby-zlyvayusya-z-lyalkoyu-rezhyserka-animatsii-anastasiya-falileieva/ detector.media
Інтерв’ю про фільм (Don't take fake):
https://donttakefake.com/anastasiya-falileyeva-stvoryla-animatsiyu-pro-ab-yuz-na-tli-vijny-tse-yiyi-osobysta-istoriya/
https://donttakefake.com/anastasiya-falileyeva-stvoryla-animatsiyu-pro-ab-yuz-na-tli-vijny-tse-yiyi-osobysta-istoriya/
Інтерв’ю «Режисерка Анастасія Фалілеєва» (SKVOT):
https://skvot.io/uk/blog/rezhiserka-psa-patrona-ya-zapuskayu-shchupalcya-stop-moushenu-vsyudi-de-mozhu Skvot
https://skvot.io/uk/blog/rezhiserka-psa-patrona-ya-zapuskayu-shchupalcya-stop-moushenu-vsyudi-de-mozhu Skvot
«Крихкі спогади, насильство та окупація: Анастасія Фалілеєва про свій анімаційний фільм “Я померла в Ірпені”» (Суспільне.Культура):
https://suspilne.media/culture/824959-krihki-spogady-nasilstvo-ta-okupacia-anastasiya-falileeva-pro-svij-animacijnij-film-a-pomerla-v-irpeni/ Суспільне | Новини
https://suspilne.media/culture/824959-krihki-spogady-nasilstvo-ta-okupacia-anastasiya-falileeva-pro-svij-animacijnij-film-a-pomerla-v-irpeni/ Суспільне | Новини
«Кіно любить тишу: Анастасія Фалілеєва про “Я померла в Ірпені”» (RFI):
https://www.rfi.fr/uk/українці-за-кордоном/20250319-кіно-любить-тишу-як-створювався-фільм-що-підкорив-світовий-фестиваль-у-франції
https://www.rfi.fr/uk/українці-за-кордоном/20250319-кіно-любить-тишу-як-створювався-фільм-що-підкорив-світовий-фестиваль-у-франції
Interviews and mentions of "I Died in Irpin" in international media
Variety (USA) - 10 must-watch films of Clermont-Ferrand 2024
https://variety.com/2025/film/global/clermont-ferrand-buzz-titles-ridley-scott-hellfest-bill-murray-1236290694/
Animation Magazine (USA) – «I Died in Irpin» succeeded in Clermont-Ferrand, as «Best Animation» https://variety.com/2025/film/global/clermont-ferrand-buzz-titles-ridley-scott-hellfest-bill-murray-1236290694/
https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/02/clermont-ferrand-fest-awards-juried-prizes-to-i-died-in-irpin-ashen-sun/
Animation Magazine (USA) – «I Died in Irpin»BIAF Grand Prix
https://www.animationmagazine.net/2024/10/memoir-of-a-snail-i-died-in-irpin-win-grand-prizes-at-biaf-2024/
https://www.animationmagazine.net/2024/10/memoir-of-a-snail-i-died-in-irpin-win-grand-prizes-at-biaf-2024/
Birdmen magazine (Italy) - "The future of short films in 4 titles"
https://birdmenmagazine.com/2025/04/30/bref-film-festival-2025
https://birdmenmagazine.com/2025/04/30/bref-film-festival-2025
ZippyFrames (EU) — Annecy Festival Preview 2024: Golden Expectations, Platinum Recommendations:
https://www.zippyframes.com/festivals/annecy-festival-2024-golden-expectations?highlight=WyJhbmFzdGFzaWlhIiwiZmFsaWxlaWV2YSIsImFubmVjeSIsImFuYXN0YXNpaWEgZmFsaWxlaWV2YSJd
https://www.zippyframes.com/festivals/annecy-festival-2024-golden-expectations?highlight=WyJhbmFzdGFzaWlhIiwiZmFsaWxlaWV2YSIsImFubmVjeSIsImFuYXN0YXNpaWEgZmFsaWxlaWV2YSJd
ZippyFrames (EU) — – «‘I Died in Irpin’ Continues Garnering Festival Awards»:
https://www.zippyframes.com/festivals/i-died-in-irpin-electra-about-a-cow-continue-garnering-festival-awards
https://www.zippyframes.com/festivals/i-died-in-irpin-electra-about-a-cow-continue-garnering-festival-awards
Cineuropa (EU) – short overview of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival winners
https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/473511
https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/473511
Animation World Network – «Memories, Hooves, and War – Exploring Annecy's Short Film Competitions»
https://www.awn.com/animationworld/memories-hooves-and-war-exploring-annecys-short-film-competitions
https://www.awn.com/animationworld/memories-hooves-and-war-exploring-annecys-short-film-competitions
Animation World Network – «Ottawa International Animation Festival 2024 Highlights»
https://www.awn.com/blog/ottawa-international-animation-festival-2024-highlights
https://www.awn.com/blog/ottawa-international-animation-festival-2024-highlights
Script, Director, Art Designer, Animation – Anastasiia Falileieva
Music – Petr Marek
Dramaturgy – Lucia Kajánková
Production – Marcela Vrátilová, Mira Dittrich
Producers – Alena Vandasová, Martin Vandas (MAUR film, CZ) / Juraj Krasnohorský (Artichoke, SK)
Co-producer – Anastasiia Falileieva (Plastic Bag Studio, UA)
Co-producer – Anastasiia Falileieva (Plastic Bag Studio, UA)
Language – Ukrainian voiceover
Length – 11 min. 22 sec.
Length – 11 min. 22 sec.
Financially supported by Czech Film Fund and Slovak Audiovisual Fund.
