Biography

Alisa Kovalenko is an award-winning Ukranian documentary filmmaker, based in Kyiv. Her first two feature-length documentaries, "Alisa in Warland" (IDFA 2015) and "Home Games" (Sheffield Doc/Fest 2018) were both screened over 100 festivals, winning multiple awards. Alisa's third film, "We Will Not Fade Away", a teenage adventure documentary set in war-torn Donbas, premiered at the Berlinale 2023. "We Will Not Fade Away" won 20 international awards, was named Best Ukrainian Documentary in 2023 by the Ukrainian Film Academy and was selected for the European Film Awards 2023. The same year, she co-directed together with Simon Lereng Wilmont a short documentary for youth audience, - "Girl Away from Home" (IDFA 2023).

After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Alisa joined a volunteer combat unit associated with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and fought on the frontline for months, before returning to filmmaking. From this existential experience she has drawn a new personal documentary, "My Dear Théo" (CPH:DOX 2025).

Alisa is an awardee of the Chicken & Egg Award 2024. Her films have been screened by major broadcasters and platforms such as Netflix and Arte.
- IMDb mini biography by: Kasia Kuczynska