International Film Festival “Steps” and Steps awards raising awareness for humanity, animals and environment.
There is no bad odor, no sound, no monstrosity, to which man cannot become so accustomed that he ceases to remark it. (Leo Tolstoy)
6th International Right Film Festival “Steps” took place in two stages:
1st stage took place in Crimea on several film platforms in October, 10-13 and 25-27.
There were screenings out of competition and special screenings.
2nd stage has been held in Kharkiv (the first capital of Ukraine) in November, 7 – 10.
November 7 – The Official Opening Ceremony of the Festival, Cinema Hall “Dovzhenko”.
November 7-10 – screenings of the Competition Program, Cinema Hall “Bommer”.
November 10 – The Award Ceremony of winners, Cinema Hall “Dovzhenko”.
Under the auspices of:
United Nations in Ukraine
UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Olivier Adam’s address to organizers and participants of the International Human Rights Film Festival “Steps”.
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in Ukraine,
Award for the best film that depicts the activism and civic engagement of citizens in tacking and solving social/humanitarian/environmental problems on voluntary basis (Programme officer UNV programme Mr. Giovanni Mozzarelli address).
Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ukraine,
Union of Filmmakers (Ukraine),
WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) – advisory member of the European Parliament and the UNO.
STEPS International Film Festival is a member of the European Documentary Network (EDN, Denmark).
President of the festival – Igor Parfenov (film director, head of “Steps” Centre on Human Rights, Animal Rights and Environmental Protection named after Leo Tolstoy).
Welcome to our website!
STEPS International Film Festival is the first film festival in the CIS countries which covers such a wide range of rights topics: human rights, animal rights, environmental protection. The Festival also accepts philosophical and ideological films, films focusing on social and political issues.
Mission Statement
STEPS Film Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to attracting the attention of our society to prejudices and cruelty in the modern world, where human rights are violated, animals oppressed and the environment destroyed. Where barbarous habits have become a part of our daily lives and are no longer considered unacceptable. The works of creative people will help the audience understand that every person is responsible for everything that is going on around them, will help us see our life from a different angle.
The festival aims to disclose the topic of human, animal rights and environmental protection as widely as possible in order to show people the way to grow and improve themselves. STEPS Film Festival reveals the “inconvenient truth” avoided by many.
We are sure cinema has encouraging and educating power; it’s an inspiring means to influence people. Therefore, we believe it’s one of the best ways to point out the existing problems and suggest ways to solve them.
The name of the festival implies there’s an imaginary staircase all of us are standing on. We can use it either to go up the ‘steps of morality’ or to descend to barbarity. The choice is ours.
An essential part of the STEPS Film Festival is the Echo Program. A number of screenings of the best films are demonstrated in different cities. It usually takes place in Kharkiv, Yalta, Moscow and St. Petersburg.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.