proMOTION 2024 — programme of systematic support of international promotion of Ukrainian cinema
The programme is designed to increase the presence of Ukrainian cinema and its recognition on international film markets.
About the programme
The goal of the programme is to develop competencies and strengthen marketing skills of Ukrainian filmmakers as well as foster systematic international cooperation with professional promotion agencies.
proMOTION 2024
In 2024, the Ukrainian Institute and the Eurimages, the cultural support fund of the Council of Europe, continue cooperation within the framework of the proMOTION programme to support the international promotion of Ukrainian films.
The selection of film projects will be carried out by a competition committee consisting of two representatives of the Ukrainian Institute film department, a representative of the Eurimages and two independent experts (Ukrainian and international).
A total of seven film projects will be selected over the course of the year, receiving up to 8000 euros for promoting the film abroad. During one competition selection, the commission can choose no more than four projects and reserves the right not to select any.
Full-length film projects (70 minutes or more) of any genre and form at the final stages of production that are ready to plan a festival or theatrical release during the period corresponding to the competition can take part in the competition. More details about the conditions are available at the link.
Selection Committee for the proMOTION 2024
The selection of film projects submitted for participation in the proMOTION 2024 Programme will be carried out by a competition committee consisting of two representatives of the Ukrainian Institute film department, a representative of the Eurimages and two independent experts (Ukrainian and international).
This year’s committee includes:
- Vika Leshchenko, producer and curator, programmer for the International Documentary program at DOK Leipzig
- Dennis Ruh, Film and Media Industry Expert, Director of the European Film Market (2020-2024)
- Sergio García de Leániz, Project Manager at Eurimages, curator of the Promotion Programme
- Natalie Movshovych, Head of the Film Department at the Ukrainian Institute
- Iryna Kyporenko, Programme Manager of the Film Department at the Ukrainian Institute
The third open call
Full-length film projects (70 minutes or more) of any genre and form at the final stages of production that are ready to plan a festival or theatrical release during the period corresponding to the competition can take part in the third competition.
More details about the conditions are available at the link.
Applications for participation can be submitted from October 4 to October 30, 2024, 23:59 (Kyiv time), at the address [email protected]. The winners will be announced no later than 2 December, 2024.
Promotional campaigns should be implemented during the period from January to April (inclusive) 2025. Preference will be given to projects that already have confirmed festival premieres or international theatrical releases during this period. Confirmations will be accepted until the end of the competition evaluation – 29 November.
For all questions regarding the application to the competition, contact the email [email protected].
The second open call
The selected projects are:
“You Are the Universe”, dir. Pavlo Ostrikov, prod. Volodymyr Yatsenko, Anna Yatsenko
Future. Ukrainian space trucker Andriy Melnyk transports nuclear waste on the cargo ship to the abandoned Jupiter’s satellite Callisto. During his routine flight, the Earth explodes. Pieces of the planet destroy everything in their path at breakneck speed, but Andriy manages to hide his spaceship behind Callisto. He becomes the last person in the Universe, but after some time, Catherine – a French scientist from a space station near Saturn gets in touch. They are completely different and far from each other, but every day Andriy and Catherine want to meet each other more and more. Even if it will be their last trip.
“Dad’s Lullaby”, dir. Lesia Diak, prod. Lesia Diak, Monica Lăzurean-Gorgan, Elena Martin, Hrvoje Osvadić
This documentary drama tells the story of Serhiy, who returns home after three years of participating in the war. Now he is torn between two battles: with his past and his present, which includes his wife and three sons. Reality begins to fall apart when his wife Nadya becomes pregnant, and Serhiy realizes how much the trauma of war hinders his return to family life.
“Songs of Slow Burning Earth”, dir. Olga Zhurba, prod. Darya Bassel
An audiovisual diary of the first two years of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine shows how the reality of war becomes normal in a peaceful country. The film was shot at various distances from the 3,000 km front line and consists of different places, random characters, and rare dialogues. The sound evolves from fragmented chords of panic and horror accompanying the mass evacuation during the first weeks of the invasion to the numb silence of final acceptance of war, which becomes the norm for local residents and the rest of the world. The world premiere of the film will take place at this year’s Venice Film Festival.
“Flowers of Ukraine”, dir. Adelina Borets, prod. Glib Lukianets, Natalia Grzegorzek
A strong, independent and anarchist woman full of humor sets out to protect her piece of land against all odds. Her struggle becomes even more existential with the attack on Ukraine, never giving up and bringing to the viewers sense of hope.
Applications (closed)
Applications for participation can be submitted from June 3 to June 27, 2024, 23:59 (Kyiv time), at the address [email protected]. The winners will be announced no later than 25 July, 2024.
The winner of the first open call
The winning project is Intercepted, directed by Oksana Karpovych, produced by Giacomo Nudi, Rocío Barba Fuentes, Pauline Tran Van Lieu, Darya Bassel and Olha Beskhmelnytsina, co-producerd by ARTE France.
More about Intercepted
The film captures the transformation in the daily lives of Ukrainians following Russia’s full-scale invasion. Russian soldiers made thousands of unauthorized phone calls from the battlefield in Ukraine to their families and friends in Russia. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian special services have been regularly intercepting and posting these private conversations online. Bit by bit, the voices of Russians not only reveal to the world the course of the so-called “special operation” but also the process of dehumanization and demoralization of its executors – from harboring heroic illusions to complete disillusionment and loss of sanity, from looting to committing the most horrific war crimes.
The film is part of the Generation Ukraine project, featuring 12 documentaries made by Ukrainian directors after February 24, 2022, about the impact of the Russian invasion, co-produced by ARTE. Its world premiere took place in the Forum section of the 74th Berlin Film Festival, where it received a Special Mention from the Ecumenical Jury and a Special Mention for Ecumenical Award.
Applications (closed)
Applications for participation can be submitted from February 28 to March 24, 2024, 23:59 (Kyiv time), at the address [email protected].
The winners will be announced no later than April 22, 2024.
Promotional campaigns should be implemented during the period from May to August 2024, inclusive. Preference will be given to projects that already have confirmed festival premieres or international theatrical releases during this period. Documents confirming this are accepted until the end of the expert evaluation process, namely on April 15.
For all questions regarding the application to the competition, contact the email [email protected].