A soldier at the front line, a child on the way, and a decision that will change everything. The Institute of Documentary Film presented the East Doc Award to Cameo, an intimate documentary project by Siarhei Marchyk, during the KFF Industry Awards Ceremony in Krakow.
The award was presented on Friday, June 5, 2026, at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, as part of the Krakow Film Festival’s industry programme. The awarded project, Cameo, is directed by Siarhei Marchyk and produced by Siarhei Marchyk and Marita Bierońska. On behalf of IDF, the award was presented by Ivana Pauerová Miloševičová, member of the Institute’s board.
The East Doc Award highlights outstanding documentary films from Central and Eastern Europe. The selected project is invited to a rough cut consultation with the Institute's team, where it receives in-depth feedback to guide the film toward its festival journey.
Photo: marchelloproduction.com
Cameo follows a 29-year-old soldier who has been fighting on the front line in Ukraine for three years. What begins as a story of endurance and loyalty gradually becomes a deeply personal dilemma. During one of his leaves, Cameo learns that he is going to become a father, and the war he once believed would soon end suddenly becomes a direct threat to the future of his family.
The camera stays close to him, capturing the everyday reality of the front line – combat, exhaustion, waiting, and brief moments of fragile normality. As the tension between duty to his comrades and responsibility for his child grows stronger, Cameo is forced to make a choice that will shape the rest of his life.
The project is currently in the editing stage, with delivery planned for February 2027.
KFF Industry is the industry programme of the Krakow Film Festival. This year’s awards and special mentions were announced during a ceremony following the pitching sessions Animated in Poland, DOCS TO START, and DOCS TO GO, organised in cooperation with DOC LAB POLAND.