Ukrainian director Maryna Er Gorbach wins SEEfest Legacy Award in Los Angeles
Maryna Er Gorbach received the SEEfest award in Los Angeles (Photo: Harry Upto)
Ukrainian filmmaker Maryna Er Gorbach received a Legacy Award at the South East European Film Festival, which opened in Los Angeles, for her work including the film Klondike about the MH17 downing.
The South East European Film Festival has opened in Los Angeles, focusing on films from Southeast Europe. At the opening ceremony on April 29, Ukrainian filmmaker Maryna Er Gorbach received a Legacy Award. In 2022, she won a festival prize for her film “Klondike,” about the downing of flight Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 shootdown over Russian-occupied Donetsk region.
“Her voice has become the voice of her generation and her country. We are proud to have screened Maryna Er Gorbach’s films in Los Angeles and to present her with the SEEfest Legacy Award 2026,” festival organizers said.
Er Gorbach has presented two films at the festival over the years — “Omar and Us” and “Klondike.” She is currently working on a new project, “Rotation,” about a young Ukrainian woman who leaves civilian life for military service and seeks stability in a new reality.
Over the festival’s 21-year history, only two Ukrainian women have received the Legacy Award — actress Oksana Cherkashyna and Er Gorbach. Past recipients also include Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The festival runs through May 6 in Los Angeles. The program includes Ukrainian documentary films, including “Militantropis” by Yelyzaveta Smith, Alina Gorlova and Semen Mozhovyi, and “From the Front with Love” by Alisa Kovalenko.
SEEfest has been a pioneer in introducing a regional cross-border programming concept in the United States, combining thematic films to present a broader narrative of Southeast Europe. Each year, it showcases internationally recognized films and art installations and hosts a filmmakers’ conference in Los Angeles.
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