Ukrainian filmmaker Zhanna Ozirna won the first [1] Build Your Dream award for her film "Honeymoon" at a ceremony in Cannes on May 14, 2026 [1].
The recognition highlights the growing international visibility of Ukrainian cinema as it documents the human cost of the Russo-Ukrainian war. By blending geopolitical conflict with an intimate domestic struggle, the film provides a template for how modern war thrillers can explore psychological trauma.
The ceremony took place atop the JW Marriott in Cannes, France [1]. The award, backed by Mediawan and BYD, was presented to Ozirna for her artistic portrayal of the early stages of the conflict. The narrative focuses on a claustrophobic marital drama that unfolds as the war begins [1].
"Honeymoon" is described as a war thriller that uses the tension of a failing relationship to mirror the instability of a nation under attack [1]. The film's approach to storytelling emphasizes the internal pressures faced by individuals during the onset of large-scale military aggression.
This victory marks the first time the Build Your Dream prize has been awarded [1]. The initiative aims to support emerging cinematic voices, and projects that demonstrate exceptional artistic merit and storytelling capability on a global stage.
Ozirna's work arrives at a time when Ukrainian filmmakers are increasingly utilizing the Cannes platform to bring the realities of their homeland to a worldwide audience. The film's focus on the marital bond amidst the chaos of war serves as a microcosm for the broader societal ruptures caused by the invasion [1].
“Ukrainian filmmaker Zhanna Ozirna won the first Build Your Dream award”
The awarding of the inaugural Build Your Dream prize to a Ukrainian director underscores a shift in the global film market toward 'conflict cinema' that prioritizes psychological intimacy over traditional battlefield spectacle. As international festivals like Cannes establish new prize categories, they create dedicated pipelines for regional stories to reach global distribution, potentially increasing the geopolitical influence of Ukrainian cultural exports.
