Danyliuk V. Ukrainian feature films as a factor in the consolidation of society and the affirmation of civic identity

The dissertation is devoted to a comprehensive study of the functioning of modern Ukrainian feature films as a strategic resource for the consolidation of society and a key factor in the affirmation of civic identity. The relevance of the topic is due to the gap between the rapid evolution of national cinema and the level of its theoretical understanding in the cultural discourse. During the defining decade (2014–2025), the domestic screen space was transformed under the influence of existential challenges, turning from the sphere of entertainment into a tool for the decolonization of memory and the mobilization of cultural symbols. It is argued that in the context of modern nation-building, it is military and historical-dramatic films of the period 2014–2025 that appear as the most effective tool for the articulation of civic subjectivity; it is established that through the reflection of themes of heroism and the processing of collective traumas, they ensure the formation of value orientations of a political nation. The use of the concept of "project identity" (M. Castells) made it possible to reveal the patterns of the formation of the national film canon as an effective resource for value consolidation and strengthening the cultural sovereignty of the state in conditions of social upheavals. It has been determined that Ukrainian feature films function as a multi-level mechanism for forming identity: through narrative The intrapretation of traumatic experience ensures the transformation of chaotic events into a coherent national narrative. The role of cinema in the processes of decolonization of consciousness is specified, where authentic subjectivity is asserted through the destruction of imperial stereotypes. It is argued that in conditions of existential challenges, films become symbolic "places of memory" that transform the individual experience of witnesses into a lasting cultural memory, modeling the future socio-cultural landscape of Ukraine. The Conclusions summarize the results of the study, summarize the role of feature films in strengthening social unity, and formulate theoretical and practical recommendations for the further use of the cinematic resource in the system of establishing the civic identity of Ukraine. In particular, it is proven that Ukrainian feature films (2014–2025) have finally transformed from an aesthetic object into a strategic resource of "soft power", which ensures socio-cultural stability and decolonization of memory through the formation of a "project identity". It is revealed that the key mechanism of consolidation is the evolution of the screen hero from the archetype of "victim" to the figure of a "responsible citizen", which stimulates the transition of society from passive adaptation to conscious social action. The three-dimensional system of cinema's influence on society is argued: symbolic construction (creation of new meanings), mechanisms of psychological therapy (transformation of trauma into solidarity) and institutional effect (conversion of aesthetic capital into international advocacy of national interests). It is specified that the international recognition of domestic film products at class "A" festivals serves as a "mirror of success", which strengthens the internal self-esteem and collective dignity of the Ukrainian political nation. It is argued that the synergy of state support and professional consolidation of the film community creates a cognitive barrier against hostile narratives, integrating Ukrainian semantic constructs into the European cultural landscape. It is noted that the presented study creates a theoretical basis for further scientific explorations in the field of cultural studies and film studies. A promising direction is identified as deepening the analysis of the reception of film content by involving empirical data on the perception of screen images by various social groups (veterans, internally displaced persons). The feasibility of conducting a comparative analysis of strategies for using cinema in other post-conflict societies to identify universal patterns of overcoming trauma is emphasized. Attention is drawn to the need to expand the research focus on mass genres (comedy, animation) as tools for preventing the viewer's "emotional fatigue" and studying the institutional conditions of film production as a factor in the formation of the state's global image. Keywords: modern Ukrainian feature films of the historical-dramatic genre; social consolidation; civic identity; decolonization of culture; narrative strategies; identification models; collective trauma; state cultural policy; cultural diplomacy.