The Ukrainian Institute at the 10th Odesa International Film Festival
The Ukrainian Institute and Odesa International Film Festival have launched a new joint programme for the promotion of Ukrainian film projects within the Film Industry Office.
With the support of the Ukrainian Institute, 20 representatives of international distribution companies and film festivals were able to see the newest Ukrainian films and establish contacts in the professional community within the 10th Odesa International Film Festival, held from July 12 to July 20, 2019, in Odesa.
The Film Industry Office is a platform for professional communication, support and development of Ukrainian film projects and the film industry as a whole, as well as for the presentation of Ukraine to the international community of film industry professionals.
As a part of the Film Industry Office, organizers presented UA Films Showcase – closed screenings of Ukrainian films that are just finished or are at the post-production stage where five works were presented: “Atlantis” by Valentyn Vasyanovych, “Ivan’s Land” by Andriy Lisetskiy, “Blindfolded” by Taras Dron, “Toloka” by Mykhailo Illyenko and an animation ” Victor_Robot” by Anatoliy Lavrenishin.
Natalia Movshovych, Programme Manager of the Ukrainian Institute, says:
“Closed reviews for festivals and sales agents have been practiced abroad as an effective way to promote national films. We are very glad that in partnership with the Odesa Film Festival, the Ukrainian Institute successfully tested this format in the first year of the joint work. The level of representation of the international cinema community at the 10th OIFF was very high. On the other hand, in recent years the quantity and quality of Ukrainian films have increased, therefore, we have opportunities to present different projects, both in genre and in the creative approach. We received positive feedback from the invited experts and Ukrainian participants. Such format is a relevant solution for the sector, and we will continue to practice it.”
An important part of the Film Industry Office programme was the presentation of Work in Progress projects (films at the final stage of production). The aim of Work in Progress is to promote films on the global and local markets, attract international attention, and search for future partnerships.
In the Work in Progress nomination, the jury awarded the Ukrainian-Swiss film “Forgotten” directed by Daria Onyshchenko with the prize from the Ukrainian institute in the amount of 150 000 UAH for promotion of the film with the greatest international potential.
“First of all, this award will allow us to produce high quality promotional materials to attract international distributors. We will be able to make a trailer for the international audience, subtitles, and prepare a film for further participation in the international festivals. Now the film is already at the final stage of post-production, so this award is very timely!“,
commented Igor Savychenko, producer of the project.
Also, during the Film Industry Office, the organizers of Docudays UA and the State Cinema Agency presented the project “Ukraine: Here We Go!” and advised on how to apply for membership in a delegation of Ukrainian documentaries for the IDFA International Festival in Amsterdam. The delegation visited the IDFA in November 2019 and joined a networking event organized by the Ukrainian Institute.
