The Faculty’s International Scientific and Practical Conference
III International Scientific and Practical Conference
“Audiovisual Art and Media Technologies: Modern Trends and Development Prospects”
On May 13-14, 2026, on the occasion of Ukraine’s Science Day, the Faculty of Audiovisual Arts and Media Technologies of the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts successfully held the III International Scientific and Practical Conference “Audiovisual Art and Media Technologies: Modern Trends and Development Prospects” in a hybrid (online and offline) format.
The primary objective of the conference was to engage participants in discussions surrounding current theoretical and practical issues in audiovisual arts and media technologies, while raising public awareness of the field.
The conference took place under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, the State Agency of Ukraine for Arts and Art Education, and the Eastern Regional Scientific and Art Centre of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine. It was supported by the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts (Georgia), Vilnius Academy of Arts (Lithuania), LUCA School of Arts (Belgium), the International Committee of Thematic Screen Art Festivals CINETOUR, the online cinema platform “KinoButy” (“Cinever”), and the media partner — “Nakypilo” Media Group.
The event brought together over 70 scholars, filmmakers, and students from Ukraine and 10 countries, including Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Belgium, Italy, Georgia, Turkey, Portugal, Japan, and the USA. The diverse line-up of participants featured university professors, film festival directors, Oscar and Emmy-winning creators, and representatives of CINETOUR.
During the plenary opening session, participants were greeted by Yevhen Lavro, Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine, who emphasised that despite the ongoing war, Kharkiv remains a resilient and powerful hub for scientific thought and creative innovation.
Warm greetings were also delivered by Emmy-winning director and actor Jaswant Shrestha (USA), who praised the unbreakable spirit of Kharkiv’s academic community.
The keynote opening presentation of the conference focused on documentary cinema in times of historical challenges. It was delivered by prominent filmmaker Iryna Pravylo from the I. K. Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television, who discussed her latest documentary “Flowers Beyond the Dark“. This film, which intertwines three stories from the Kyiv region during the spring of 2022, was recently selected for the prestigious Carmel International Film Festival in California.
Another major highlight of the conference was an exclusive creative meeting with Oles Sanin, a renowned Ukrainian filmmaker, cultural figure, and Vice President of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine. He shared professional behind-the-scenes insights into the cinematography, storyboarding, and music design of his historical film “Dovbush“. He also discussed his long-standing creative connection to Kharkiv and the Academy, where parts of his earlier award-winning movie “The Guide” were filmed.
International educational cooperation was further highlighted through the presentation of the joint artistic project “Instructions”. This unique cultural and academic exchange brought together students and lecturers from both KSADA and Sint Lucas Antwerpen in Belgium. Curated by Hanna Kurinna and Kurt Vanbelleghem, the project was first presented in Antwerp in March 2026, and its participants shared their experiences, travel reflections, and collaborative artworks with the conference audience.
The conference programme also included five thematic panel sessions covering key areas of audiovisual research and creative practices:
The conference concluded with a final plenary session, summarising the results of the panel discussions, sharing participant feedback, and presenting awards for the “Eteria” All-Ukrainian Audiovisual Arts Competition.
We invite you to watch the press conference featuring:
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5C1VXBRBVw
Although the conference has concluded, the Organising Committee continues its work. The book of conference abstracts will be published in June 2026. We look forward to welcoming you to the IV International Scientific and Practical Conference in 2027!
Sincerely,
The Organising Committee
Photo report: Davyd PONOMAROV, Anna YAREMENKO, Ihor LEPTUHA
