Oksana as this year’s winner with her trophy.
Changemaker, a FilmEU initiative, has just taken place in Lisbon. It helps bachelor, master, and PhD students develop their pitching skills. Participants must present their audiovisual projects live at the FilmEU Industry Summit. This year's theme was community, exploring how young people seek connection and safety in uncertain times.
Oksana Babych took part in the pitch competition with Building the Dawn. It is a project inspired by her own experiences as a refugee from Ukraine, reflecting on hope, resilience, and the importance of community, and she is in the early stages of developing the script.
The story follows a young scientist, Eve, navigating the ruins of her city. Guided by her cat Carbon and a tiny robot, Eve glimpses a future rebuilt through empathy, collaboration, and perseverance, showing that the power to shape tomorrow lies in our hands.
Through the Film EU program, Oksana has received feedback on the story and on how to present the project to film funds and producers.
Huge congratulations to Oksana!
We caught up with Oksana and asked her how the experience has been.
Oksana is presenting her project to an expert jury.
Meet Oksana
Question: How has your experience in Lisbon been?
Oksana: "Truly incredible. Lisbon felt thrilling, fascinating, a bit magical even. It’s honestly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Getting the chance to present my project on an international stage and discovering the city for the first time… it all felt unreal in the best way possible."
Question: What was it like taking part in an international pitch competition?
Oksana: "Definitely exciting! Even with all the preparation, standing on stage in front of the jury and so many talented participants was a little nerve-wracking. But that’s also what made it so valuable. You can’t really simulate this in school. And meeting people from completely different backgrounds – animation, live action, documentary – gave me a fresh perspective I really appreciated."
Question: What are your main takeaways from the experience?
Oksana: "I received very helpful feedback from the jury about my story and the structure of my pitch. Now I see much more clearly which parts can be improved and how to make the whole thing stronger. I also got new ideas for the future of my project, became more comfortable pitching in a new setting, and made so many new connections with students and professionals."
Question: What are you taking home with you – both personally and professionally?
Oksana: "The biggest thing I’m taking home is confidence. You only get it by actually stepping outside your comfort zone. I’m also taking home many wonderful new acquaintances – so many people I truly hope to meet again. And of course, Lisbon itself left a huge impression on me, so I couldn’t resist bringing back a few little souvenirs… and the trophy, of course."
Question: What can you use or apply in your future work?
Oksana: "This experience will help me a lot with our third-year pitch and any future presentations. I also think it will be very useful when working with clients, because I learned how to present my ideas more clearly, passionately, and in a way that fits the audience."
Question: Would you recommend others to apply?
Oksana: "Absolutely! It’s a truly unique chance to grow – both personally and professionally. I’m incredibly grateful I got to be part of this initiative, and I would encourage everyone to try. It’s really worth every bit of effort."
Here, Oksana is pictured with the other finalists, who pitched projects in documentary, animation, and feature film.