Future for Ukraine’s awareness video “Ambiguous Loss Is a Trauma” received a Special Mention in the Human Rights and Equality category at Big Syn International Film Festival 2026 in London, the world’s largest film festival dedicated to sustainability.
Thousands of women in Ukraine live in a constant state of waiting. Their husbands, sons, brothers or fathers are missing or being held captive. They have neither confirmation of their loss nor a sense of closure. In psychology, this experience is known as ambiguous loss — one of the most complex forms of trauma. The awareness video “Ambiguous Loss Is a Trauma” was created to ensure that the voices of Ukrainian women living with this uncertainty are heard far beyond Ukraine. It was produced with support from the Askol’d and Dir Fund, administered by ISAR Ednannia under the project “Strong Civil Society of Ukraine — a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy,” funded by Norway and Sweden.
Through Future for Ukraine’s GIDNA project, more than 170 women have already received professional psychological support to help them cope with ambiguous loss.
“We congratulate all BSIFF 2026 participants and winners who have joined this unique global platform. Through the power of films that resonate with audiences, they help the world see the connections between all aspects of sustainability and bring about positive change for people and the planet,” said the festival’s founders, Dr Ragini G Roy and Dr Sourav Roy.
Big Syn International Film Festival is supported by the United Nations, the Mayor of London, the BBC and the British Council. Finalists’ films are assessed by a Grand Jury that includes Oscar and BAFTA winners. This year’s winners were announced at an awards ceremony at Curzon Soho cinema. The festival reached more than 60 million people across 120 countries.
This year, the festival also teamed up with Leonardo DiCaprio and Richard Ladkani’s film Yanuni to bring it to millions more viewers worldwide and support its protagonist’s vital work to protect the Amazon. Yanuni was shortlisted for the 2026 Academy Awards and has already attracted more than 14 million views.
