What happened and why it matters
In 2025, according to the State Agency of Ukraine for Film Affairs, production was completed on 46 film projects with a total value of more than 562 million UAH, of which state funding amounts to over 319 million UAH. These include 35 films (18 of them documentaries) and 6 fiction TV series, as well as 4 non-fiction TV films and 1 animated series (reports UNN).
Finances and project breakdown
The key figures speak for themselves: state funds were directed to both fiction and documentary initiatives. Such a balance makes it possible to support commercially oriented releases while also backing projects that build cultural memory and the country's international image.
- 562 million UAH — total cost of the completed projects;
- over 319 million UAH — direct state funding;
- 18 — non-fiction (documentary) films;
- 17 — fiction feature films;
- 6 — fiction TV series;
- 4 — non-fiction TV films;
- 1 — animated series.
What this means for the industry and the country
These figures are not only about budgets. State support keeps production chains intact, provides work for creative teams and technical specialists, and sustains distribution and theatrical infrastructure. For the state, this is an investment in soft power: films and series shape the international image, help export cultural products, and retain audiences within the country.
The expert community notes that such results during a full-scale war indicate a systematic effort across the industry — from script to release. Commercial successes, including the mentioned drama "You Are the Cosmos", which became the second highest-grossing Ukrainian film of 2025, show that audiences are willing to pay for local stories if they are high-quality and relevant.
"In 2025, despite all the challenges of wartime, with the support of the State Film Agency, the production of 46 film projects was completed"
— State Agency of Ukraine for Film Affairs
Consequences and questions for the future
The year's summary gives grounds for cautious optimism: the industry is surviving and even producing competitive products. However, the question of scaling remains — how to turn these isolated successes into a stable export industry after victory. Will there be enough resources and political will to transform state support into a long-term strategy for developing the creative industries?
This is not only a cultural question — it is a question of the economy, jobs, and Ukraine's international presence in the information space. The ball is now in the politicians' and investors' court: declarations must be turned into a strategy that will allow scaling the successes of 2025.
