Dovzhenko Film Studios

The Dovzhenko Film Studios were initiated in the 1920s when the All-Ukrainian Photo-Cinema-Directorate (VUFKU) proposed the construction of a cinema factory in 1925. The project by Valerian Rykov was selected, and construction began in 1927, making it the largest studio in the Ukrainian SSR at that time.

Although the filming pavilions were incomplete a year later, production commenced. The first film produced was 'Ivanko and the Butcher' directed by Aksel Lundin, with filming starting on October 12, 1927. The studio quickly attracted many talented filmmakers and operators, leading to a significant increase in both the quantity and quality of films being produced.

In 1930, the studio came under state control, aligning its output with the ideological goals of communism. The 1930s were formative years for the studio, which was evacuated to Tashkent during World War II and later resumed operations in Kyiv after the city was liberated.

In 1957, the studio was named after Oleksandr Dovzhenko, reflecting its connection to one of Ukraine's most celebrated filmmakers. By 2000, the studio was granted national status, further solidifying its importance in the Ukrainian film industry.

In December 2009, a digital restoration studio for Ukrainian films was established at the complex. However, on June 15, 2026, the studio suffered damage from a Russian strike during the ongoing conflict, which destroyed a significant costume collection and affected other buildings on the premises.

The Dovzhenko National Film Studio operates as a full-cycle enterprise, producing its own films while also providing services to other film and television companies in Ukraine. It has been recognized as a key producer of national films, with its status approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on January 26, 2011.

Dovzhenko Film Studios has been responsible for numerous significant films throughout its history. Some notable productions from the Soviet era include 'Man with a Movie Camera' (1929), 'Earth' (1930), and 'Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors' (1964).

In the post-independence era, the studio produced films such as 'Famine-33' (1991), 'A Friend of the Deceased' (1997), and 'Lost City' (2015), showcasing the studio's continuous contribution to Ukrainian cinema.