Pyvovarov — original soundtrack to the new Sergei Loznitsa film 'Above the Fire'

Artem Pyvovarov wrote the original soundtrack to the new Sergei Loznitsa film 'Above the Fire' — a documentary-fiction drama about the Mariupol evacuation in March-May 2022. The film premiere runs at the 83rd Venice Festival (Venezia 83) on 4 September 2026, in the 'Orizzonti' competition. Loznitsa is a long-time admirer of Pyvovarov as a composer (collaborating with him already in 2023 on the short film 'Burnt Sun'). The soundtrack score (total runtime 87 minutes) was written by Pyvovarov in Kyiv and Venice from March 2025 to January 2026. The music team includes a 32-member symphony orchestra (recorded at the Lviv Philharmonic), 6-member choir (from the Kyiv ensemble), 4 soloists — among them Pyvovarov himself (vocal performance of 4 lament songs) and bandurist Oksana Stasenko (from the Shevchenko Martyrs). A particular soundtrack detail — the use of real audio recordings of Mariupol shelling (provided by surviving city defenders) as a rhythmic basis for individual tracks — a technique Pyvovarov developed under the influence of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. The soundtrack will release as a separate release on the Universal Music label simultaneously with the film — 4 September 2026. Expected to receive nominations for the 'European Film Award' 2027 and 'Oscar' 2027 in 'Best Original Score' category.