Advancing Children’s Cinema and Literature in Ukraine
During the presentation of the results of the 'Thousand Springs' initiative, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the critical need to develop children’s cinema and animation in Ukraine, pointing out their current absence. He stressed that this issue demands serious attention, as it is impossible to ban children from watching certain content when such content simply does not exist.
“Children’s cinema, animation—when we talk about kids, I respect other types of products, but this (children’s content) is missing. We cannot just forbid children from watching something because we lack the product; that’s wrong.”
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The president also highlighted the insufficient focus on books in Ukraine in 2026. He cited the example of the book '1913: The Summer of the Century,' which was written in 2012 but only presented in Ukraine in 2026. He noted that this book was published in Russian in 2013, whereas the Ukrainian version appeared only many years later.
“It’s clear in which language people could read this book. So there are problematic issues all around us. We need to move faster.”
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy further underscored that developing children’s content requires more investment and time to make it mainstream. “Children’s content needs time to become mainstream. It takes years. We need to invest more money and work harder on this direction,” he added. Through these remarks, the president expressed hope for future improvements in the realm of children’s cinema and literature in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy’s comments highlight the pressing challenges facing Ukrainian culture, particularly in creating quality content for children. Advancing children’s cinema and literature could be a crucial step in shaping the national identity and cultural awareness of the younger generation. Investments in this sector would not only foster creativity but also help fill gaps in access to high-quality children’s content, serving as a key factor in raising a new generation of Ukrainians.
As the Ukrainian government strives to enhance children's cinema and literature, the need for urgent action becomes even more apparent in light of recent findings. With a significant percentage of the population still consuming Russian content, the extension of the application deadline for the 'Thousand Springs' initiative underscores the challenges ahead. Addressing these issues is crucial for fostering a vibrant cultural landscape for the younger generation.