Film Rock, Paper, Scissors wins BAFTA 2025 award

War drama about events in Ukraine receives prestigious award

The short film "Rock, Paper, Scissors", directed by British-German filmmaker Franz Böhm, won the BAFTA 2025 award. The film, dedicated to the war in Ukraine, was named Best British Short Film. The awards ceremony took place on 16 February in London.

The lead role in the project was played by Ukrainian actor Oleksandr Rudynskyi, who delivered a moving speech on stage, dedicating his award to Yevhen Svytlychnyi – a friend who died on the front line.

Actor's emotional speech

At the awards ceremony, 28-year-old Rudynskyi addressed the audience with words that resonated powerfully:

«Я хочу посвятить эту награду моему другу – Жене Светличному, который погиб на войне за пять дней до начала съёмок. А также всем, кто защищает мою страну и делает всё, чтобы она оставалась независимой. Большое спасибо BAFTA. Слава Украине!» (I want to dedicate this award to my friend – Yevhen Svytlychnyi, who died in the war five days before filming began. And to everyone who defends my country and does everything to keep it independent. Thank you very much, BAFTA. Glory to Ukraine!)

A clip of his speech later appeared on social media, resonating with viewers and colleagues in the film industry.

In memory of Yevhen Svytlychnyi

Yevhen Svytlychnyi was a fighter in the 1st Separate Assault Company of the DUK PS "Wolves of Da Vinci". He died on 19 July 2023 at the age of 29 while carrying out a combat mission on the Kharkiv front.

Notably, Svytlychnyi was not only a soldier but also had acting experience: in 2021, he appeared in the film "Rhinoceros" by Oleg Sentsov, which tells the story of the criminal world of the 1990s.

About the film "Rock, Paper, Scissors"

The short film by Franz Böhm is based on real events. The story takes place during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The protagonist, 18-year-old Ivan, lives in the eastern part of the country. His father is a surgeon who, with the start of hostilities, saves the lives of soldiers by performing operations in a secret bunker. However, when the enemy learns of the existence of this shelter, the young man is forced to take up arms to protect the wounded.