Ukrainian producer and director Valentyn Vasyanovych’s
drama
Atlantis
has won best film at the 37th edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival (JFF), which is running as an online event December 10-20 due to Israel’s ongoing Covid-19 lockdown.
Set in war-torn eastern Ukraine in the near future, the film revolves around a former soldier suffering from PTSD, who is trying to rebuild his life against the backdrop of his environmentally devastated homeland.
It is Vasyanovych’s third feature and Ukraine’s submission to the best international film category of the 2021 Oscars. Another Oscar hopeful, Jasmila Zbanic’s
Quo Vadis, Aida?, which is Bosnia’s entry, received a special mention.