“We have three films made by female directors and three films by male directors. The festival shows not only the latest British films but also “can not miss” films. We chose not only the last year movies because they are actual for Ukrainian society issues. Every year we look for this “live nerve” of dialogue between British and Ukrainian culture, so that it is not just a festival of cool British cinema that does not resonate with the audience, but with actual themes", says the manager of film programs and visual art of the British Council Ilya Zabolotny.

Little Joe

Austria, Great Britain, Germany, 2019/100 min

Fantastic drama

Director: Jessica Hausner

Alice, a single mother, is a dedicated senior plant breeder at a corporation engaged in developing new species. She has engineered a very special crimson flower, remarkable not only for its beauty but also for its therapeutic value: if kept at the ideal temperature, fed properly and spoken to regularly, this plant makes its owner happy. Against company policy, Alice takes one home as a gift for her teenage son, Joe. They christen it ‘Little Joe’ but as it grows, so too does Alice’s suspicion that her new creations may not be as harmless as their nickname suggests.

They Shall Not Grow Old

Great Britain, New Zealand, 2018/99 min

Documentary

Director: Peter Jackson

Created exclusively with original footage from the Imperial War Museums' film archive and audio from BBC archives, director Peter Jackson brings the First World War to life in a way never seen before. Using the voices of the veterans combined with original archival footage to bring to life the reality of war on the front line for a whole new generation. Footage has been colourised, converted to 3D and transformed with modern production techniques to present never before seen detail. Co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary, and Imperial War Museums, to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Mr. Jones

Poland, Great Britain, Ukraine, 2018/120 min.

Drama

Director: Agnieszka Holland

Academy Award nominee Agnieszka Holland (Europa Europa, Spoor, In Darkness) brings to the screen the extraordinary untold story of Gareth Jones, an ambitious young Welsh journalist who traveled to the Soviet Union in 1933 and uncovered the appalling truth behind the Soviet “utopia” and Stalin’s regime. Initially, a regular news investigation, Jones’ quest quickly turned into a life-or-death journey… helping inspire George Orwell’s famous allegory of “Animal Farm”.

Diego Maradona

Great Britain, 2019 / 130 min.

Documentary

Director: Asif Kapadia

Having never won a major tournament, ailing football giants SSC Napoli had criminally underachieved. Their fanatical support was unequalled in both passion and size. None was more feared. But how they ached for success... On 5th July 1984, Diego Maradona arrived in Naples for a world-record fee and for seven years all hell broke loose. The world’s most celebrated football genius and the most dysfunctional city in Europe were a perfect match for each other. Maradona was blessed on the field but cursed off it; the charismatic Argentine quickly led Naples to their first-ever title. It was the stuff of dreams. But there was a price… Diego could do as he pleased whilst performing miracles on the pitch, but when the magic faded he became almost a prisoner of the city.

Sorry, We Missed You

Great Britain, France, Belgium, 2019/100 min.

Drama

Director: Ken Loach

Ricky, Abby and their two children live in Newcastle. They are a strong family who care for each other. Ricky has skipped from one labouring job to another while Abby, who loves her work, cares for old people. Despite working longer and harder they realise they will never have independence or their own home. It's now or never; the app revolution offers Ricky a golden opportunity. He and Abby make a bet. She sells her car so Ricky can buy a shiny new van and become a freelance driver, with his own business at last.

Only You

Great Britain, Sweden, 2018/119 min.

Melodrama

Director: Harry Wootliff

After a one-night stand on New Year's Eve, Elena and Jake fall madly in love. Within weeks they are living together, and not long after they are trying for a child. When the baby doesn’t materialize, pressure builds and the idea of a family starts to overshadow their relationship. A passionate, romantic, and contemporary love story, about the struggle to remain in love when life doesn’t give you everything you want it to.