Episodes: Don't Switch!

Even before the days of top-rated global shows, Ukrainian television had no money for international formats. To retain viewers, TV workers created original programs. As a result, cult TV shows appeared and gave Ukraine stars who became symbols of the era. Ihor Pelykh sends strangers on a romantic journey, Kuzma Skryabin makes the contestants spend money quickly, and Ihor Kondratyuk makes stars in one day. This is a story about the diverse and sincere Ukrainian television of the noughties, the legacy it left and why everything changed.

Directed by Artem Hryhorian, Episodes: Don't Switch! leans on a strong ensemble — Andriy Kuzmenko, Andrii Danylko, Ігор Пелих — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2024.