The VR documentary film “Shelter” won a victory at the prestigious international award The Webby Awards 2026. The film was recognized as the best in the category “Apps, Software & Immersive — Science & Education”. The project, created in 360° format, is the result of a co-production between Ukraine, the Netherlands and Belgium, and its co-director and producer was Ukrainian filmmaker Ivanna Khitsinska.
The film offers the viewer an immersive immersion into the lives of Ukrainians during a full-scale war through the space of shelters. The plot covers places where people give birth, prepare for combat missions, and experience losses. The film was shot throughout 2024 in various regions of the country, capturing the work of an underground maternity hospital in Kyiv, opera performances in a Kharkiv basement, and military preparations at the front.
“This award is an important international recognition not only of the film itself, but also of the presence of Ukrainian authors in the field of immersive storytelling. “Shelter” demonstrates how modern technologies can become a tool for a profound documentary statement about war, loss, endurance and human closeness,” emphasized Ivanna Khitsinska.
The Webby Awards, founded in 1996, are considered one of the most influential awards in the field of digital technologies and the Internet. In 2026, the artificial intelligence category was included in the list of nominations for the first time.
In addition to “Shelter”, the “Plastic Ocean” project by another Ukrainian, Alena Gulenko, received high awards. Her work, created with the help of AI, won in the categories “Best Use of Artificial Intelligence” and “Best Use of Video or Moving”.
On the Ukrainian side, the production of the film “Shelter” was carried out by the company WAYA Production. The international project team included representatives of the Dutch studio Scopic Lab and Belgian producers. The victory of Ukrainian artists at such a level confirms the competitiveness of the domestic creative sector and the importance of cultural diplomacy in the context of the ongoing conflict.
The success of immersive projects on the world stage opens up new opportunities for documenting historical events using the latest technologies. Recognition from the professional community and viewers helps attract the attention of an international audience to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine through modern art forms.
