Ukrainian films > Welcome to Ukraine

Today Ukrainian film industry numbers more than 150 production companies and film studios.

Many films have already filmed in Ukraine. Among them russian film "The 9th Company" by Fedor Bondarchuk, film version of "Taras Bulba" by Vladimir Bortko, "The House of Flying Daggers" by Chinese director Zhang Yimou. Also it's film "Dushka" by Holland director Jos Stelling.

So what are the main advantages of shooting in Ukraine?

1. We are close to all European countries.

To make your task of finding Ukraine on the world map easier, let us remember that it situated right in the very heart of Europe. It could be helpful to remind that Europe extends in the longitudinal direction from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in the west and up to the Ural Mountains in the east. So, if you draw an imaginary line from the Atlantic to the Urals, you'll find Ukraine right in the middle.

2. Most Europeans do not require a visa to go to Ukraine.

In September 2005 Ukraine introduced visa-free entry. We are glad to inform all that citizens of the European Union, USA, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, State-city Vatican, Iceland, Monaco, Norway and San-Marino do not need to have visa to enter Ukraine. The entrance without visa in Ukraine and transit through it for the citizens of these countries is valid for those also who comes for no less then 90 days. This fact naturally simplifies the process of the border control and decreases the travelers' expenses.

3. The law is friendly towards the film makers.

It would take you 4 to 14 days to obtain permits to shoot at a municipal property area, 20 days if it's something top-security or governmental, and 2 to 5 days for private areas. Aerial shootings need an additional permission only in case of shooting in the state border areas. There are no specific limitations as to talent work conditions for children or animals, no powerful guilds. It will cost you next to nothing to get a buy-out for all times, all territories.

4. Diverse set of locations ranging from vivid landscapes to historic heritage and to ultra-modern urban ambience.

Ukraine is situated in two climatic zones - moderate (the plains and both the mountain ranges) and Mediterranean subtropics (the southern shore of Crimea). Floral world of Ukraine represented by forest, forest-steppe and steppe zone replicates many of the European landscapes. Variety of Ukrainian landscapes and a wide natural zoning could offer the producer any possible landscape for the exterior shootings. The country is washed by Black and Azov seas on South. Landscapes of Carpathian and Crimean Mountains differ from small hills with foliose and coniferous forests to the crags and snow-covered hills.
The East European architecture of Ukraine was influenced by Austria-Hungary Empire at the West and by classical soviet architecture style at the East. The capital of Ukraine is the ultramodern megalopolis, where you can find many urban landscapes. In the same time the city Kyiv happens to be one of the oldest towns in Europe. Kyiv believed to be no less than fifteen hundred years and to have hundreds of churches in the 11th and 12th centuries.

5. Professional film crew and latest equipment.

Today many directors are coming to shoot their films in Ukraine. But not only Liberal legislation, low prices, variety of locations is the main reason. Ukrainian film school is well known from it's soviet past. But also there is own unique professional equipment in Ukraine. In 1996 the camera complex "Kaskad" with gyroscopically stabilized camera head called "Flight Head" was chosen for shooting of the "Titanic". This Filmotekhnik equipment was also used in shooting of such famous Hollywood films as "War of the Worlds", "Casanova" and Yimou Zhang's "Hero", Russian blockbusters and the Ukrainian film "Mamay". In the 2006 company "Filmotekhnik" won two "Technical Oscars" of the American Film Academy, which are the highest and the most prestigious awards in the world of equipment.