NY Baltic ’26: Kyiv Cake (short)

Intentionally bombing apartment buildings is an undeniable war crime. Putin does it all the time. Consequently, no matter how surreal this animated short gets, it is still firmly based in reality. Life was always hard, but it takes a tragic turn in Ukrainian filmmaker Mykyta Lyskov’s Kyiv Cake, produced by Estonia’s Joonisfilm studio, which screens during the 2026 New York Baltic Film Festival.

The father is often on the road working, or whatever. As for the mother’s cooking, heaven have mercy. Plus, the power meter has a literally monstrous hunger. Not surprisingly, as the little toddler grows up, he develops delinquent tendencies. However, he doesn’t realize how much he has, until Putin strikes.

Evidently, Lyskov thoroughly packed Kyiv Cake with symbolism average Ukrainians will immediately recognize, but might soar over the heads of outsiders. Nevertheless, international audiences will fully understand the anger and grief Lyskov expresses. Stylistically, Lyskov engages in bizarre flights of fantasy that share a kinship with some of Bill Plympton’s work. However, his final images land like a punch to the gut.

Too many Ukrainian families have suffered similar experiences as the family in Kyiv Cake. In general, Ukrainians are more devoutly Christian than their neighbors (most definitely including their invaders), but they share Western values of tolerance. Yet, when was the last time a rally against Russia committing genocide in Ukraine was held on an American college campus?

The visceral visuals and emotions of Lyskov’s animated short should shame extremists on both far ends of the political spectrum. Highly recommended for sophisticated animation fans, Kyiv Cake screens this Friday (11/6), as part of the Baltic Shorts program at this year’s NY Baltic Film Festival.