December 30, 2025 | Tel Aviv-Jaffa | Start: 19:00 | Duration: 3 hours, language Ukrainian with subtitles.
Show organizer: Created in Ukraine.

In Tel Aviv, one of the most anticipated Ukrainian film screenings of the winter will take place — the festive comedy “Train to Christmas”, a continuation of the popular film “Train on December 31,” which gathered hundreds of thousands of viewers in Ukrainian cinemas. The premiere screening will not just be a cultural event, but a real Christmas evening that will unite viewers around a shared story of warmth, kinship, and the power of traditions.

Tickets will be available soon. Organizers ask to mark the date in advance — December 30, the evening before New Year’s.

About the film: a story about people who accidentally found themselves together and found what they had long been looking for

The film is based on a Christmas journey that each passenger begins for their own reasons but ends as a completely different person.

On December 24, Ukrzaliznytsia launches a special festive train to Western Ukraine. On this train, people hurry to those they haven’t seen for a long time, who are waiting for them at the table of the Holy Evening — the main family holiday in Ukrainian tradition.

But here’s what’s unusual: the train is serviced by characters already familiar to viewers from the first part “Train on December 31” — conductor Nikolai Ivanovich and his daughter Olga, now the train manager. They once again find themselves at the center of events when new random passengers enter the dining car one by one — bright, contradictory, sometimes funny, sometimes vulnerable.

Each of them carries hope:

— Anna and her little son Matvey dream of spending Christmas with their father — a Ukrainian soldier who is not allowed on leave.
— Karina, confident in her beauty and charisma, wants to seduce an attractive top manager but unexpectedly encounters her school rival, with whom old grievances still linger.
— Igor Knyaz, an honored artist, gathers a children’s ensemble for a performance… which was canceled, but he cannot bring himself to tell the children.
— Passengers with their unspoken words, family secrets, personal crises, and funny problems hope for only one thing — to get home.

But fate decides otherwise: the train stops in the snowy night, communication is lost, and it becomes clear that only a few hours remain until Christmas — and there is no way forward.

And then strange neighbors turn into an unexpected family:
— they prepare a real Ukrainian Holy Supper with twelve dishes;
— recall traditions, carols, and warm stories;
— share their experiences and find support;
— light the first Christmas star — a symbol of hope.

The film shows the main thing: even in the most difficult times, Ukrainian Christmas can unite hearts and bring miracles.

Actors: a star-studded cast of Ukrainian cinema

The film features some of the most recognizable and beloved actors of the Ukrainian stage:

• Stanislav Boklan

• Antonina Khizhnyak

• Mykhailo Khoma (DZIDZIO)

• Anna Kuzina

• Yuriy Gorbunov

• Liliya Rebrik

• Nazar Zadniprovsky

• Valentin Tomusyak

• Anastasia Ivanyuk

• Andriy Isaenko

• Polina Vasylina

• Kristina Fedorak

• Anna Sagaidachnaya

• Dmytro Sova

• Ivan Merzlyakov

• Olena Khokhlatkina

• Tatyana Krulikovskaya

• Victoria Bilan-Rashchuk

• Alina Kosharna

Each of these actors creates their own little story, which is woven into the overall plot. Thanks to their performance, the film becomes not just a comedy, but a warm ensemble of characters that evoke smiles and sympathy.

How the film was created: details that reveal the atmosphere

The production was handled by Prototype Production and FILM.UA Group — key players in the Ukrainian film industry, known for dozens of successful projects.

Filming started on July 14, 2025 in Kyiv and took place both in real train cars and in large-scale dining car sets created specifically for the film. There, lighting could be changed, space rearranged, and train movement simulated.

Those involved in the film included:

— Producers: Yuriy Gorbunov, Zoya Soshchenko
— Supervisor: Iryna Kostyuk
— Director: Valentin Shpakov
— Cinematographer: Tatyana Dudnik
— Screenwriters and showrunners: Yaroslav Sten, Bohdan Hatsilyak, Oleksiy Prykhodko
— Executive producer: Kateryna Shvets
— Line producer: Oleksandr Bezverkhiy
— Production designer: Maksym Dmytrenko
— Costume designer: Kateryna Vitvytska
— Makeup artist: Olena Kleshova
— Casting director: Alina Marchuk
— Composer: Oleksandr Chorny

Important details of the filming process:

1. Symbolic beginning
Before the first day of filming, the team broke a piñata in the shape of Santa Claus — symbolically saying goodbye to Soviet ideas of New Year and returning to Ukrainian Christmas traditions.

2. Creating a winter world
Scenes of the train stopping were filmed in a specially created “winter zone” — with artificial snow, controlled blizzard, and night lighting.

3. Working moments
According to Ukrainian media, Mykhailo Khoma spent several hours on the roof of the train performing a complex take.

4. Consultations with real railway workers
To maintain realism, the creators actively consulted with conductors and employees of Ukrzaliznytsia.

The film’s runtime is 90 minutes.

Organizers of the screening in Israel

The screening in Tel Aviv is organized by the initiative team Created in Ukraine — an initiative that systematically introduces Israelis to Ukrainian cinema and culture.

They bring new Ukrainian feature and documentary films to Israel, hold premieres, discussions, meetings with directors and actors. Thanks to their work, Israeli viewers have the opportunity to see modern Ukraine through the language of cinema — its humor, traditions, everyday life, cultural codes.

For Ukrainians in Israel, these screenings are a way to maintain a connection with their native culture and pass it on to their children. For Israelis, it’s an opportunity to better understand Ukrainian society, get acquainted with its traditions, and see the living stories behind the news.

This is why the “Created in Ukraine” projects have become an important part of the Ukrainian-Israeli cultural dialogue.

For Israelis: explaining Ukrainian traditions and the cultural context of the film

Many elements of the plot of “Train to Christmas” are connected with Ukrainian winter traditions, which may be unfamiliar to viewers in Israel. This section is created to explain the cultural background of the film in simple and understandable terms — without religious accents.

What is “Ukrzaliznytsia”

“Ukrzaliznytsia” is the national railway of Ukraine, analogous to Israel Railways (רכבת ישראל), but with a much wider network and enormous social significance.

In Ukrainian reality, the train is not just transport, but a way to get home, see loved ones, cover long distances, and feel safe.
During the war, the role of the railway became almost symbolic: it helped people stay connected with the country and family.

Why Ukrainians go home specifically on the Holy Evening

The Holy Evening in Ukraine is primarily a family tradition, an evening when it is customary to gather everyone together.
It is not a matter of religious ritual — it is a cultural norm that unites even those who live far from each other.

On this evening, Ukrainians:
— set a table with 12 special dishes;
— prepare kutya — the main festive dish;
— meet with relatives;
— share news, plans, warm stories;
— try to be together, regardless of circumstances.

It is somewhat reminiscent of important family evenings in Israel when everyone gathers at one table to feel connection and belonging.

Who is DZIDZIO

DZIDZIO (Mykhailo Khoma) is one of the most popular Ukrainian artists.

He is known as:
— a comedy film actor,
— a singer,
— a showman,
— an author of humorous sketches,
— a participant in major film projects.

His roles are usually associated with kindness, humor, and a very “folk” style that is easily recognizable and evokes sympathy.
DZIDZIO’s presence in the film automatically creates an atmosphere of lightness and good comedy.

Why the team broke a piñata in the shape of Santa Claus

This gesture has cultural significance.

In different periods of Ukraine’s history, winter traditions changed, and some old images from other cultures (for example, Santa Claus) are gradually fading into the past.

Breaking the piñata symbolizes:
— rejection of outdated Soviet symbols,
— a return to their own Ukrainian traditions,
— the renewal of cultural images that people want to pass on to children.

This is not related to religion — it is part of cultural self-identification.

How Ukrainians celebrate winter holidays

The main idea of Ukrainian winter holidays is family, home, and community.

Ukrainians traditionally:
— gather with the whole family;
— prepare a festive dinner;
— exchange stories and gifts;
— support those who are far from home;
— sing seasonal songs, creating an atmosphere of warmth and humor.

The film “Train to Christmas” shows exactly this side of the holiday — human, cozy, and unifying.

What is “caroling”

Caroling (Ukrainian kolyaduvannya) is an ancient winter tradition.
Groups of children, teenagers, or adults go from house to house, sing cheerful festive songs, and wish the hosts luck, peace, success, and goodness for the coming year.

In practice, this means:
— cheerful songs,
— costumes,
— laughter,
— good wishes.

Something similar can be found in different countries, for example, in European carols or in cheerful, informal courtyard songs.

What is a festive dinner of 12 dishes and why is kutya the main one

In Ukrainian winter tradition, a 12-dish festive table is set.
This is a cultural norm: each dish symbolizes a certain family value — prosperity, health, peace, support, harmony.

Kutya is the main dish.
It is a mixture of wheat, honey, nuts, dried fruits, and poppy seeds.
It symbolizes family unity, roots, memory of relatives, and hope for a good year.

For Ukrainians, kutya is not just food, but an element of family identity.

What is the “first star”

In Ukrainian families, the festive dinner begins when the first star appears in the evening sky.
This is not a religious requirement, but a beautiful tradition that children especially love.

The signal “the star has appeared” is a sign that you can sit at the table, start the celebration, gather together.

Why viewers in Israel should know about this

Understanding these traditions helps to feel the atmosphere of the film “Train to Christmas” more deeply and understand why the train, family, festive dinner, and random meeting of people in a carriage have such a strong impact on the plot.

This is a story not about religion — it is a story about how people try to preserve warmth, kinship, and normal life, even when the world around becomes complicated.

Comment from NAnovosti

NAnovosti emphasizes:
The screening of “Train to Christmas” is an important cultural gesture. Even far from home, Ukrainians gather for films that remind them of family traditions, native language, warmth, and support.

This is a story about how family is where you are heard, where you can share the Holy Evening, even if those nearby are not relatives, but people whom fate brought together on the road.

Invitation

NAnovosti invites everyone: Ukrainians, Israelis, friends of Ukraine, and those who love warm family stories.

📅 December 30, Tel Aviv
🎬 Premiere of the film “Train to Christmas”
🎟 Tickets will be available soon.

Let this evening be our shared festive meeting — with carols, laughter, warmth, and a piece of Ukraine.