The opening of the 22nd Travelling Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival in the Ternopil Region took place on October 13 at the Zalishchyky State Grammar School. The choice of location was symbolic: for several years in a row, this education institution has demonstrated some of the highest results in Ukraine’s External Independent Evaluation exams. This time, it became the meeting place for young people, teachers, and festival guests to discuss the main theme of the year, Rare Resource, through the lens of cinema.

What is our most valuable resource today?

The discussion was moderated by Vasyl Diakiv, an Honored Teacher of Ukraine and winner of the Global Teacher Prize Ukraine. Together with the school’s students, he sought an answer to the question, “What is the rarest resource in modern Ukraine?”

Dozens of ideas were articulated: from natural resources and clean water to quality education, effective diplomacy, and economic freedom. Yet the conversation inevitably returned to the central point: the human being as the highest social value, as enshrined in the Ukrainian Constitution.

Photo: Opening of the 22nd Traveling Docudays UA at the Zalishchyky State Grammar School

During the meeting, participants also mentioned the initiative of this year’s festival ambassador, Maksym Butkevych, a human rights advocate and co-founder of the organization Principle of Hope. They joined a charity fundraiser to support the rehabilitation of military and civilians released from russian captivity.

Survey: Resources of the Podillia Dnister Region

To better understand which resources young people consider the most valuable in their region, the students were invited to fill out a questionnaire.

The results showed that what the grammar school students value most highly is the natural beauty of the Dnister Canyon, the historical and cultural heritage, the fertile lands, clean water, and hardworking people.

This choice demonstrates how closely the notions of nature, community, and human dignity are intertwined for the residents of Zalishchyky.

Photo: watching the film Inside, the Valley Sings

Cinema as a conversation about human beings

After the discussion, the participants watched three short films from the Docudays UA programme.

• How I Spent My Summer Holidays?, a documentary chronicle of 1 September that shows how the war changes childhood but cannot take away hope.

• Inside, the Valley Sings by Nathan Fagan, an animated story about three prisoners who find humanity and connection even in solitude.

• The Last Song from Kabul, a touching film about being forced to say goodbye to one’s home, which resonates with every Ukrainian who has experienced loss because of the war.

The films sparked a lively discussion and once again confirmed that documentary cinema is not only about facts but also about empathy, compassion, and reflection on our present.

During the post-screening conversation, the students reached a shared conclusion: the most valuable resource is our ability to remain human, even in the darkest times.


“A person can be called the highest social value only when society treats them as an individual, not as a ‘useful resource,’” noted one of the high school students.

The 22nd Travelling Docudays UA is held with the financial support of the European Union, the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, and International Media Support. The opinions, conclusions or recommendations do not necessarily correspond to the views of the European Union, the governments or charities of these countries. Responsibility for the content of the publication lies solely on its authors.