Okhtyrka Skateboarding Film “Pryzemlennia” Selected for International Festival in Finland
A documentary film about skateboarding culture in Okhtyrka, Sumy region, has been selected for the official program of the international SUOMFORNIA film festival in Finland. “Pryzemlennia” will compete in the Best Skateboard Film category.
A Film About Skateboarding in Okhtyrka
The film “Pryzemlennia” was created by the team of the NGO Center for the Development of Street Cultures in Okhtyrka. The organization told the local media outlet Cukr about the film’s selection for the Finnish festival.
The documentary focuses on the creation of Okhtyrka’s first indoor skatepark and the community that helped build it.
From an Abandoned Industrial Space to a Skatepark
The story follows events that took place in 2024, when local residents and members of the street-culture community began creating an indoor skatepark.
The space, known as “Krytka,” officially opened in March 2025. The project involved local young people who helped with construction work, including building and installing a new skateboarding ramp.
The skatepark was created in a former industrial building and has since become a space for skateboarding, music, graffiti and other youth activities.
The Film Tells the Story of a Frontline Community
According to the film’s creators, “Pryzemlennia” is not only about skateboarding.
The documentary follows the community’s efforts to develop a cultural space in a city affected by the war and presents the project through themes of loss, resilience, risk and attachment to one’s hometown.
The creators say the film also aims to show Okhtyrka from a different perspective and highlight the people who continue developing the city rather than waiting for better circumstances.
Ukrainian Team Behind the Film
The documentary was directed by Dmytro Pashko. Yaroslav Bybyk worked as director of photography, while Pavlo Ihnatchenko was the producer.
The project also involved coordinator Bohdan Babych, musicians Seven8 and Pavlo Poputalo, and designer Oleksandr Huzii.
International Festival Screening
“Pryzemlennia” will compete in the Best Skateboard Film category at the SUOMFORNIA international film festival in Finland.
The selection gives a film made by an Okhtyrka-based cultural organization an opportunity to present the city’s youth and skateboarding community to an international audience.
