Yelyzaveta Toptyhina
Directing
Yelyzaveta Toptyhina (Єлизавета Топтигіна) is a Ukrainian film director, screenwriter and visual artist. Originally from Odesa region, based in Kyiv. Yelyzaveta graduated from the directing department at the Kyiv National Karpenko-Kary University of Theater, Cinema and Television. She is an alumna of Sarajevo Talents 2026. Working across fiction and hybrid forms, as well as commercials, her work explores emotional connections between characters, infused with warm irony in both storytelling and imagery. In 2025, her short film “Curfew” had its international premiere at the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival. The film won the Audience Choice Award at the Wiz-Art IFF and was nominated for the European Short Film Audience Award (ESFAA). Currently, Curfew is screening at film festivals across Europe, including Fribourg IFF, Brussels Short FF, Curtas Vila do Conde - IFF, Clermont-Ferrand ISFF, Go Short - ISFF, Tampere FF, Interfilm Berlin and others. The film was also nominated for the Ukrainian National Critics Award “Kinokolo” in two categories: Best Short Fiction Film and Best Screenplay.
