Poster for Domanivka, directed by Bozhena Tsalko, AFIN 2026

Student Short Film AFIN 344

Domanivka

Directed by Bozhena Tsalko

AFIN 2026 Nominee

  • 2026
  • 25m
  • Ukraine
  • Ukrainian
  • M
  • Adventure
  • Horror
  • Mystery
Student Film

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Stills

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Credits

Written by

Synopsis

The legends of Domanivka village are all true.

Two friends came here to escape the war, only to fall into a local witch's trap. Using ancient Polissian rituals, the witch plays a subtle game, cursing one of the girls and aiming her magic not only at the soul but at the very core of their friendship. After the girls venture into an abandoned witch's lair uninvited, the witch sends one of them terrifying visions, turning their bond into a source of suspicion and fear.

To survive, they must do more than overcome the external evil - they must restore the trust between them.

Director's Statement

Bozhena Tsalko, filmmaker portrait provided to AFIN.

I work at the intersection of directing and editing, treating montage as the core of my storytelling. My films are built around rhythm, atmosphere, and what remains unspoken - silence, pauses, and small visual details that reveal inner tension. I am drawn to genre cinema and hybrid forms, especially where realism meets folklore and subtle surrealism. I use genre as a tool to explore fear, intimacy, memory, and transformation rather than as a fixed structure. Before starting a project, I focus on understanding the context and internal logic of the story. I trust the audience to read meaning between the lines and aim to create films that invite interpretation rather than provide clear answers.

What makes this one special

From the Judges

From the Judges

Moody, symmetrical cinematography gives this short a genuinely eerie sense of place, and the production and costume design build out a world drawn from old Eastern European Gothic tradition. The bond between the two young leads feels unforced and alive, strongest in the quiet, off-the-cuff moments between them. Clean editing and a subtle sound design hold the atmosphere together throughout.

Curated, anonymised highlights drawn from the judges' notes.

Also selected at

1 official selection across 1 other festival

  1. SelectionKyivPrologue 2025 official selection · Ukraine, Ukraine · 2025

Recorded by the filmmaker on their entry.

Director's Biography

Bozhena Tsalko, filmmaker portrait provided to AFIN. Bozhena Tsalko Director

I am Bozhena Tsalko, a Ukrainian film director and editor based in Kyiv. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Film Editing Directing at the I. K. Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television (2022 - 2026). I have over six years of professional experience as a film editor and have worked on fiction short films, music videos, television projects, and advertising. Alongside editing, I actively work as a director and cinematographer, often combining multiple roles within my projects. My films are driven by attention to rhythm, atmosphere, and narrative subtext. I am particularly interested in genre cinema, folklore, and hybrid forms of storytelling. Before starting a project, I focus on understanding on my or other author’s context and intention, shaping the final film through precise montage, visual metaphor, and subtle humor that remains accessible to a wide audience.

Trailer

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Domanivka was an official Nominee for Best Student Narrative Short Form at the AFIN International Film Festival 2026, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.

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AFIN 2027

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On FilmFreeway since Sunday 1 November 2026. 22 awards, and every film can be up for several.

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