“BASHTA” brings psychological thriller tension to Berlinale’s film market, marking Dasha Tregubova’s feature debut

A new Ukrainian title is entering the international market conversation: JOYFILMS has showcased a teaser and materials from “BASHTA” at the European Film Market (EFM) during the Berlin International Film Festival.

The project is the feature-length directing debut of actress and presenter Dasha Tregubova, who describes the psychological thriller as one of her closest genres — built on tension, misdirection, and an ending designed to overturn what the viewer thinks they know.

Set inside a children’s shelter разрушенный войной, “BASHTA” follows journalist Marta as she arrives to document a war crime connected to the disappearance of children taken during occupation. The assignment becomes a trap: among the ruins, she is hunted by a mysterious man in a balaclava.

Running alongside this story is the discovery of a girl found by a riverbank, unable to remember her name or past. The role is played by Polina Hromova (14), while Dmytro Rybalevskyi appears as a doctor-hypnotherapist trying to help the child recover memory — a narrative device that turns the film into an exploration of trauma, memory, and survival.

Yuliia Yarmolenko plays herself in the film — a volunteer who, along with treats, brings children smiles and faith in kindness. Her character is a symbol of humanity in the darkest moments.

Producer Oleksandr Omelianov says the first industry reactions at EFM have been positive, with partners now waiting for the finished cut to assess the film’s international pathway. The team expects a world premiere in summer 2026 at an A-category festival, with Ukraine’s release scheduled for autumn 2026.

Information about the mystical thriller “BASHTA”
Runtime: 93 minutes
Director: Dasha Tregubova
Producer: Oleksandr Omelianov (JOYFILMS)
Co-producers: Artem Koliubaiev, Taras Bosak (Mainstream Pictures)
Screenwriter: Symor Hlasenko
Director of Photography: Serhii Smychok
Production Designer: Vlad Odudenko
Cast: Daria Tvoronovych, Polina Hromova, Dmytro Rybalevskyi, Marta Horobchuk

Supported by:
State Film Agency of Ukraine (Derzhkino) and the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation

Official media partners:
Viva! (Ukraine’s first celebrity magazine)
Jetsetter (Ukrainian portal covering cultural life)
Insider.ua (media on society and culture)

Media partners:
PERSHYI BIZNESOVYI (BIZ), UKRAINKY, ProShoKino, Yabl, TrueUa, LifeKyiv, 44.ua, BestPeopleClub, Touch, Like in Ua, Gossip, SuperLady, CoolBaba, 33 Kanal, BUT.IN.UA, FOSTYLEN, Odessa Fashion Day, StarBrothers, BUSINESS ML MAGAZINE, Studio of my Dreams.