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06.26.2026
Animals in War
Directed by
Sviatoslav Kostiuk, Andriy Lidahovskyi, Alexei Mamedov, Ivan Sautkin, Yuliya Shashkova, Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi, Maksym Tuzov
Blending observational realism with poetic imagery, ANIMALS IN WAR refracts the devastation of the war in Ukraine through the lives of animals it left behind. As cities empty and frontlines shift, creatures both domestic and wild navigate a world instantly reshaped by violence. Featuring Oscar winner Sean Penn and told through a collection of visually arresting vignettes by leading Ukrainian filmmakers, ANIMALS IN WAR is a meditation on survival, innocence, and the tension between humanity and nature in times of war.
Director & Cast
- Director: Sviatoslav Kostiuk
- Director: Andriy Lidahovskyi
- Director: Alexei Mamedov
- Director: Ivan Sautkin
- Director: Yuliya Shashkova
- Director: Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi
- Director: Maksym Tuzov
- Starring: Sean Penn
- Starring: Maryna Koshkina
- Starring: Olga Korotyayeva
- Starring: Andrey Isaenko
- Starring: Aleksey Zubkov
- Starring: Oleksandr Pecherytsia
- Starring: Andriy Lidahovskyi
- Starring: Denis Kapustin
Where to Watch
Trailer
Photos
Reviews
- "Animals in War shows the war as a humanitarian as well as an ecological disaster without borders, relevant to the whole world. The anthology’s creators convey this message through suffering animals caught in the middle of a human conflict, rather than through scenes of combat."
- "I implore you to see Animals of War. Come for Sean Penn, stay for the incredible Ukrainian minds who brought it to life."
Nominated
Best Feature Film
Ukrainian Film Critics Awards
Best Feature Film
Ukrainian Film Critics Awards
Nominated
Best Director
Ukrainian Film Critics Awards
Best Director
Ukrainian Film Critics Awards
Nominated
Best Actress
Ukrainian Film Critics Awards
Best Actress
Ukrainian Film Critics Awards
Official Selection
Tribeca Film Festival
Tribeca Film Festival