Maryna Vroda was born in 1982 in Kyiv. She graduated from the Cinematography and TV faculty at the Karpenko-Karyy National University of Theatre, Cinematography and Television in Kyiv, with a specialization in feature films direction. She attended workshops run by Mikhail Illenko and Valery Sivak. After graduation, she worked with Sergei Loznitsa. Her short student films have been shown at international film festivals in both in Eastern and Western Europe, and in 2011 she won a Palme d’Or for Best Short Film at the Cannes Film Festival for Cross.