The film about the war in Ukraine, Rock, Paper, Scissors, has become a laureate of the prestigious BAFTA award

The main character is 18-year-old Ivan, played by Oleksandr Rudynskyi.

On Sunday, February 16, the 78th ceremony of the British Academy of Television and Film Arts (BAFTA Film Awards) took place.

Among the nominees this year was the film “Rock, Paper, Scissors” directed by British-German filmmaker Franz Böhm, which tells the story of the war in Ukraine. The short film competed in the category of Best British Short Film and ultimately won, receiving the prestigious BAFTA statuette for 2025.

This was reported on the award’s official website.

The Ukrainian actor Oleksandr Rudynskyi, who played the lead role in the film, took the stage to accept the award. He seized the opportunity to remind the world about the war in Ukraine and dedicated the award to his friend—actor Yevhen Svitlychnyi, who died on the front line five days before the filming began.

“I want to dedicate this award to my friend, Zhenya Svitlychnyi, who died in the war five days before we started filming. And also to everyone who defends my country and does everything possible to keep it independent. Thank you very much, BAFTA. Glory to Ukraine!” the actor said from the stage.

“Rock, Paper, Scissors” is based on real events and highlights Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The main character is 18-year-old Ivan, played by Oleksandr Rudynskyi. His father is a surgeon who saves injured soldiers and civilians in an underground shelter. When the Russian occupiers learn about the bunker, the young man takes up arms to protect his family and the people who have found refuge there.

Yulia Shcherbiy