Opportunities for Ukrainian filmmakers at the Cannes Film Market
About the projects
At the Cannes Film Festival’s Marché du Film 2024, Ukraine was represented through a series of events organised by the Ukrainian Institute in collaboration with its partners.
Producers Network 2024
Thus, the Ukrainian Institute for the fourth time became a presentation partner of the Producers Network professional programme, where five emerging Ukrainian female producers were participate:
- Oleksandra Kostina (Bosonfilm)
- Regina Maryanovska Davidzon (Real Pictures)
- Olena Morentsova – Shulyk (Ganzafilm Production)
- Veronika Stepanchuk (Balcony 48)
- Daria Zakharova (Tabor)
The selected participants have received the opportunity to participate in all events within the Producers Network programme, including morning roundtable discussions with international film experts (Breakfast meetings), and were also presented to the professional community in all communication materials of the film market as part of the Producers under the Spotlight focus.
Submission (closed)
Applications are accepted until April 7, 23:59 Kyiv time, via email to [email protected].
Requirements for applicants:
- Ukrainian citizenship and a production company registered in Ukraine
- Minimum age of 18
- fluency in English
- readiness for public communication
- impeccable business reputation
- Demonstrated professional experience: Producers eligible for participation have served as the main producer for at least 2 short films or 1 feature film (not more than 2), which have been officially selected at international film festivals or released theatrically/streamed.
- Projects in progress: Producers eligible for participation have at least 2 projects (minimum 1 feature film) in progress with potential for co-production.
- The applicant’s activities and position do not contradict the principles and values of the Ukrainian Institute.
Cannes Docs
Within the Marché du Film documentary section Cannes Docs, the ARTE collection – Generation Ukraine was presented – 12 documentaries about the impact and consequences of the Russian invasion, filmed by Ukrainian directors and produced jointly with the Franco-German ARTE platform. This marks the collection’s first public presentation in France.
During Cannes Docs, screenings included Roman Blazhan’s The Basement, Oksana Karpovych’s Intercepted, and Svitlana Lishchynska’s A Bit of a Stranger, along with selected scenes from other films in the collection. The project is implemented in cooperation with the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Goethe Institute, the Ukrainian Institute and European partners.
Panel discussion on distribution
Additionally, the film market featured a panel discussion on distribution to the Ukrainian market titled “Ukraine in focus: Enhancing international coproductions.” This event was organised by the Ukrainian Institute in collaboration with Arthouse Traffic, supported by the British Film Institute. Participants included representatives from Ukrainian distribution companies Green Light, Arthouse Traffic, and cinemas like Planeta Kino and Multiplex, as well as sales agents from the UK and representatives of distribution companies from the Baltic countries.
Presentation of Ukrainian film projects supported by the European Solidarity Fund For Ukrainian Films
Ukrainian film projects supported by the European Solidarity Fund For Ukrainian Films were presented at the Marché du Film. The event was organized by CNC, the French Institute and in partnership with the Ukrainian Institute.
In particular, six projects in development that are looking for co-producers were presented:
- Inheritence by Stanislav Bytiutskyi
- Petrol station by Yuliia Hontaruk
- Retention by Dmytro Sukholytky-Sobtchuk
- The blindsight by Ruslan Batytskyi
- Ukraine is the capital of everything by Tonia Noyabrova
- Unholy power by Roman Liubyi
As well as six projects at the post-production stage in order to find distributors and sales agents:
- A picture to remember by Olga Chernykh
- A poem for little people by Ivan Sautkin
- Fragments of ice by Maria Stoianova
- Real by Oleh Sentsov
- The days I would like to forget by Alina Gorlova, Yelizaveta Smith, Maksym Nakonechnyi, Simon Mozgovyi
- The editorial office by Roman Bondarchuk
The results of the selection of new projects for the support of the European Solidarity Fund for Ukrainian Films were also announced.A total of 8 projects, 5 documentaries and 3 feature films, for a global amount of 400 000 € will receive support to finalization.
- LISTENING TO WORLD by Yelizaveta Smith (Tabor LTD, Pink Shadow Films)
- MAIDAN TIME MACHINE by Volodymyr Tykhyy, Roman Liubyi (Babylon 13 Production, TRIMAFILM)
- SILENT FLOOD by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk (TABOR LTD, Elemag Pictures)
- THE DAUGHTER by Egor Olesov (LLC HEROES CREATIVE STUDIO, UNITED HEROES LTD)
- THE SOLDIER’S JOURNEY by Helena Maksyom (PE Jeanne Maksymenko-Dovhych, Een van de jongens)
- TIMESTAMP by Kateryna Gornostai (2BRAVE PRODUCTIONS, RINKEL DOCS BV)
- TO THE VICTORY! by Valentyn Vasyanovych (Arsenal Films, Čiobreliai (M-Films)
- WAR THROUGH THE EYES OF ANIMALS by Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi, Yuliia Shashkova, Oleksii Mamedov, Maksym Tuzov, Andrii Lidahovskyi and Sviatoslav Kostiuk (Kleos Art Productions, Essence Film)
Producers Network 2023
In 2023 the Ukrainian Institute together with the Cannes Film Market (Marché du Film) in partnership with the Institut Français and the Swedish Göteborg Film Fund announced participants of the Producers Network and Cannes Docs programmes.
Based on the results of an open selection, 5 Ukrainian novice producers were selected for participation in the Producers Network programme.
Producers received free market accreditation, partial reimbursement of travel and accommodation costs in Cannes, and the opportunity to participate in all events within the Producers Network programme, in particular, morning round tables with international film experts (Breakfast meetings). Information about the producers was published on the website, in all information and communication materials of the film market, and also distributed among members of the Producers Network.
Selection (closed)
Applications are accepted until March 27, 23:59 Kyiv time. Send a filled form to [email protected]
- Ukrainian citizenship;
- minimum age 18;
- fluency in English;
- readiness for public communication;
- impeccable business reputation;
- Proven professional experience: Producers who have produced at least 2 short films or 1 feature film as the main producer, which have been officially selected for international film festivals or released in theaters/streaming platforms, and also have projects in development, are eligible to participate in the competition.
- the activity and position of the applicant does not contradict the principles and values of the UI.
Applications from producers who participated in the production presentation of the Ukrainian Institute at the European Film Market of the Berlin Film Festival, as well as applications from already experienced producers who have in their portfolio several projects presented in the competitive programmes of international film festivals, are not accepted for consideration.
Andrii Kotliar, Babylon'13
Karina Kostina, Tabor Production
Olha Matat, EvosFilm
Dmytro Sukhanov, Toy Cinema
Zlata Efimenko, EF Pictures
Cannes Docs
To participate in the Cannes Docs programme, the Ukrainian Institute formed a short list of 5 finalists, from which representatives of the Cannes Film Market selected 1 full-length documentary project at the Work in Progress stage in the creative documentary genre. It will be included in the Spotlighted Projects section.
The winning project team (director + producer) will receive: access to Cannes Docs networking activities and workshops, accreditation to the festival for two people, partial reimbursement of travel and accommodation funds, promotions on the Cannes Docs website and social networks.
Applications are accepted until March 27, 23:59 Kyiv time.
*Ukrainian Institute will assist in obtaining documents for short-term travel of participants abroad to participate in the program, but does not guarantee obtaining such permission.
Documentary «Dad’s Lullaby» by Lesia Diak
Serhiy returns home after 3 years at war, between Ukraine and Russia, burned out and traumatized. He served as a commander and was responsible for other people’s lives. Now he wants peace in himself and his family. However, the shadow of war manifests when the couple starts expecting a baby daughter. This event brings more hope and responsibilities for Serhiy.
*Ukrainian Institute will assist in obtaining documents for short-term travel of participants abroad to participate in the program, but does not guarantee obtaining such permission.