PÖFF30 | Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival | 6-22 november 2026 | Cinema Artis
The love of Olya and Oleh, a young queer Ukrainian couple, is put to the test when one partner’s gender transition collides with Russia’s full-scale invasion. As war narrows and challenges the boundaries of masculinity and femininity, they struggle to preserve their bond and sense of self. What does it mean to be a man in a country that is fighting for its identity and survival?
Based on true events, director Isabelle Stever and screenwriter Anna Melikova imbue this timely tale with profound humanity, offering a deeply resonant vision of a society stretched past its breaking point.
The film competed at the Locarno Film Festival.
“We, a Ukrainian-German filmmaker duo, place war’s brutality against the fragile quiet. Inspired by our friends’ journey through gender transition and by cast and crew experiences, we explore the transition of war into everyday life.”
- Isabelle Stever, director
In cinema 11/14/2026
PÖFF: I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming
Selten wache ich träumend auf
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Genre
Drama
Director
Isabelle Stever
Run time
1h 40min
Cast
Tania Myronyshena, Markus Bright, Iryna Mak
Genre
Drama
Director
Isabelle Stever
Run time
1h 40min
Cast
Tania Myronyshena, Markus Bright, Iryna Mak
PÖFF30 | Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival | 6-22 november 2026 | Cinema Artis
The love of Olya and Oleh, a young queer Ukrainian couple, is put to the test when one partner’s gender transition collides with Russia’s full-scale invasion. As war narrows and challenges the boundaries of masculinity and femininity, they struggle to preserve their bond and sense of self. What does it mean to be a man in a country that is fighting for its identity and survival? Based on true events, director Isabelle Stever and screenwriter Anna Melikova imbue this timely tale with profound humanity, offering a deeply resonant vision of a society stretched past its breaking point. The film competed at the Locarno Film Festival. “We, a Ukrainian-German filmmaker duo, place war’s brutality against the fragile quiet. Inspired by our friends’ journey through gender transition and by cast and crew experiences, we explore the transition of war into everyday life.”
- Isabelle Stever, director
The love of Olya and Oleh, a young queer Ukrainian couple, is put to the test when one partner’s gender transition collides with Russia’s full-scale invasion. As war narrows and challenges the boundaries of masculinity and femininity, they struggle to preserve their bond and sense of self. What does it mean to be a man in a country that is fighting for its identity and survival? Based on true events, director Isabelle Stever and screenwriter Anna Melikova imbue this timely tale with profound humanity, offering a deeply resonant vision of a society stretched past its breaking point. The film competed at the Locarno Film Festival. “We, a Ukrainian-German filmmaker duo, place war’s brutality against the fragile quiet. Inspired by our friends’ journey through gender transition and by cast and crew experiences, we explore the transition of war into everyday life.”
- Isabelle Stever, director
Info
Rating
-
Production year
2026
Global distributor
Outplay Films
Local distributor
Pimedate Ööde Filmifestival MTÜ
In cinema
11/14/2026