Maryna Anatoliivna Vroda (born 22 February 1982) is a Ukrainian film director and screenwriter.
Early life and education Born on 22 February 1982, in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Maryna graduated from the Kyiv Secondary School No. 113, and later enrolled at the Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema and Television University and was awarded a degree in directing, in 2007. She went to seminars led by Valery Sivak and Mykhailo Ilyenko.
Career Maryna collaborated with Sergei Loznitsa after graduating. International cinema festivals in both Eastern and Western Europe have screened her student films in 2008. She has produced a series of short films including "Forgive" (2003), "The Rain" (2007), "The Oath" (2007), and "Family Portrait" (2009). Her short film Cross-Country took home the 2011 Short Film Palme d'Or at Cannes. Vroda attended the Berlinale Talent Campus in 2010 and the Konrad Wolf Film University of Babelsberg in 2016 to pursue a master's degree. It is her feature debut, "Stepne" (2023).
After accepting the Locarno Critics' Prize and Best Director Award, Maryna presented her idea for the film to the Seminci before going in front of the public. According to her, "Stepne" is an emotion that came from the "feeling that she had lost a country," Ukraine, and it is what motivated her to "return home." In November 2023, her film "Stepne" takes home the Best Feature award at Scanorama. At Italy's 35th Trieste International Film Festival, Maryna's film "Stepne" won an award. Her debut movie was recognized by the jury for its moving portrayal of a collapsing nation, which skillfully combined sweetness with sincerity to explore themes of suffering and dashed dreams.
Political positions Maryna declined the Kinoshock film festival award in September 2015 to show her support for Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov, who is imprisoned in Russia. She backed an open letter sent in June 2018 to international leaders by lawmakers, human rights advocates, and cultural leaders urging them to stand up for Sentsov and other political prisoners.
Personal life Maryna presently splits her time between Berlin and Kyiv. Her grandpa, who was incarcerated by the German troops during the Second World War.
Filmography YearTitleGenreNotes2003ForgiveShort Film2006Family PortraitShort Film2007The RainShort Film2007The VowShort Film2011Cross-CountryShort FilmDirector and screenplay2014Snails2015Penguin2017The OathShort Film2022Himmel & Erde - Небо та ЗемляTV Series2023StepneFeature FilmScreenwriter, producer and editor
Cross-Country Cross-Country (, ) is a French-Ukrainian short drama film, directed by Vroda and released in 2011.Siegfried Forster, "Entretien avec Maryna Vroda, la Palme d’or du court métrage". RFI, 23 May 2011. The film centres on a group of teenagers as they participate in a cross-country run, with one boy (Egor Agarkov) splitting off from the class to run on his own and experiencing very different visions of adult life outside of school.Alina Shumova, "Victory in Cannes". Kyiv Post, 26 May 2011.
The film premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival,Tim Adler, "Cannes: Short Film Competition Lineup". Deadline Hollywood, 19 April 2011. where it was the winner of the Short Film Palme d'Or.Rebecca Leffler, "Cannes Winners: ‘Tree of Life’ Takes the Palme d’Or". The Hollywood Reporter, 22 May 2011.
Awards and recognitions On the Day of Ukrainian Cinema, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree (No.465/2023) naming Maryna as the Honored Artist of Ukraine and bestowing state medals to notable cinema professionals. Award Year Category Nominated work ResultCannes Film Festival2011Short Film Palme d'OrCross-Country Grimme Award2023 Fiction Himmel & Erde - Небо та Земля Locarno Film Festival2023Best Director Stepne Scanorama2023Best FeatureStepne
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