Ukrainian breakthrough in Cannes.

- 7 feature films of this year's production, which were presented for cinema screenings,
- everyday events at the Pavilion dedicated to different companies and cinema projects, which attracted numerous visitors and media
- and Grand reception at Croisette, which has become one of the highlights of Cannes nightlife...

With support of Nemiroff company Ukrainian Cinema Foundation has managed to organize what was a vague dream last year and to make Ukrainian pavilion at Village International one of the most interesting and popular.

The UCF pavilion in Cannes was opened on Wednesday, May 14, when for the first time Ukrainian flag was risen at Village International. (PHOTOS)

May 15 in Palais de Festival first of the 7 feature films brought to Cannes by UCF was shown - CASTING
Oleksandr Shapiro, the film's director has come to Cannes to personally present his new film. Shapiro is one of the most popular young Kyiv directors. Starting with his debut feature TSYKUTA/CIKUTA he has gained cult status in Ukraine and Russia and his next two films PUTEVODITEL/GUIDEBOOK and HAPPY PEOPLE have both caused much international attention after being screened at Belinale in 2005 and 2006.
CASTING once again reflects various sides of Kyiv life and separate individuals inside this life, this time through 36 episodes and that is 36 original acting performances, whereof one of the progagonists has been invited for big international production right after the film screening in Cannes. 

Same day first presentation was held at the Pavilion in honor of Kyiv International Film Festival Molodist - the biggest film event in Ukraine and one of the main world festivals for student and debut films (Molodist means "youth" in Ukrainian). Molodist will be held in Kyiv from 18 to 25 October this year once again presenting three main competition programs: student films, first professional shorts and first feature films, parallel competition Panorama of Ukrainian cinema, numerous non-competition programs (New Russian cinema, Eastern European "Fresh Air", Festival of Festivals and many others), as well as retrospectives and special events. For this year the launch of new competition for the best film project with further realization in Ukraine has been announced.

During such meetings in non-formal atmosphere and with exclusive cocktails from Nemiroff the guests of Ukrainian pavilion got acquainted with most important projects of Ukrainian cinema industry.

May 16 presentation of new cinema projects in (co-)production was held: DAU by Ilya Khrzhanovski (presented by director himself as well as producer Artem Vasilyev and international co-operation team), MYKYTA KOZHUMYAKA by Mykhaylo Kostrov (first Ukrainian animated blockbuster presented by producer Olga Cherepanova and general producer of studio Karandash - Vitaliy Dokalenko) and DOM S BASHENKOY by Eva Neymann (presented by head of Odesa Film Studio Oleksandr Tkachenko and producer of Sota Group Oleg Kokhan). The films presentation drew a lot of attention from representatives of production and distribution companies from around the world. It was visited also by Ukraine's First Lady Mrs. Kateryna Yushchenko. Besides UCF director Andriy Khalpakhchi and head of Nemiroff company Oleksandr Glus she was welcomed here by marketing director of Cannes Film Market Myriam Arab and director of Village International Rita Goegebeur. (PHOTOS)

Later May 16 reception-presentation in honor of Ukrainian Cinema was held on Croisette. Presentation by Ukrainian Cinema Foundation with support of general partner Nemiroff company and Kyiv IFF Molodist was opened by First Lady of Ukraine and Head of Supervisory Council of International Charitable Fund «Ukraine 3000» Mrs. Kateryna Yushchenko together with Director of Ukrainian Cinema Foundation and Artistic Director of Kyiv IFF Molodist Mr. Andriy Khalpakhchi.
Welcoming the guests Mrs. Kateryna Yushchenko thanked for the interest in Ukraine and expressed hope that this evening help them to know more about the country and its cinema.
«We can offer a lot - she noted - talented actors, technicians, cinematographers, these are professionals who are working today at the best shooting spots in the world. We also have wonderful locations and a great wish to work together in big co-production projects». Mrs. Yushchenko also highlighted that impressing and sometimes tragic history of Ukraine can become a rich source for stories that await to be put on screen.
Kateryna Yushchenko reminded the guests of the last year's visit to Cannes festival and the idea that was born when getting acquainted with the work of the Market, that of opening a pavilion for Ukraine. «A year has passed and our dream came true - she said - we are grateful to all those, who made it possible, especially to Nemiroff company». Mrs. Yushchenko expressed special thanks and greeted director of Ukrainian Cinema Foundation Andriy Khalpakhchi.
Andriy Khalpakhchi has assured the guests that this year's activities in Cannes is only a start and that in the future Ukrainian films will find their steady place in the main programs of the Festival. And UCF along with Nemiroff will do their best for the due presentation of Ukrainian cinematography. He has also presented other organizers of the event: Oleksandr Glus - director of Nemiroff company, general partner of UCF, Vasyl Vovkun - Minister of Culture and Tourism of Ukraine, Kostyantyn Tymoshenko - Ambassador of Ukraine to France. Among the guests of the reception one could note also French designer Claude Bonucci, star of European and world cinema actor Vincent Cassel, director Otar Ioseliani, director in past of Berlinale and Mostra di Venezia (and jury member of 37th Kyiv IFF Molodist) Moritz de Hadeln, director of Vilnius IFF (and also jury member of 37th Kyiv IFF Molodist) Grazyna Arlickaite, director of Cannes Film Market Gerome Paillard, president of FIPRESCI Andrey Plakhov from Russia and many other known cinema personalities, as well as all Ukrainian participants who presented their films and companies in Cannes this year.
After the welcoming speech the night continued with performance of Ukrainian folk group Dakha Brakha, with projection at the background of parts of Ukrainian films presented by UCF in Cannes.
Presentation was attended by more than 300 guests, directors and producers, representatives of diplomatic corpus, Ukrainian and international mass media. Presentation of Ukrainian Cinema Foundation and Nemiroff has become one of the most exciting events of the Festival nightlife. (PHOTOS)
Last year Kyiv International Film Festival Molodist and company Nemiroff have started the tradition of presenting national cinema in Cannes and for the first time held the reception-presentation at Croisette. This year the initiative has been supported by the Ukrainian Cinema Foundation and such full-scaled participation of our country in the work of film market and organizing own pavilion is logical step for further promotion of national cinema at international film festivals.

After grand reception Ukrainian pavilion continued with activities on the week-end too!
Saturday traditional happy hour was held with exclusive cocktails from Nemiroff and dedicated to presentation of Odesa Film Studio, and Sunday starting from 16:30 presentation was held in honor of 80th anniversary of Dovzhenko film studio with presentation of the recent film by Mykola Mashchenko - BOGDAN ZINOVIY KHMELNITSKIY which has been in Ukrainian cinemas since this month and had its Cannes screening on the evening of Wednesday May 21.
Curiously Mykola Mashchenko will be celebrating his 80th anniversary too early next year and while the director has declared the end of his filming carreer and BOGDAN ZINOVIY KHMELNITSKIY to be his last movie, Dovzhenko film studio are promising the rebirth of Kyiv's biggest state film premises (the studio was in stagnation since early 90's) and are optimistic about the future of Ukrainian cinema production and co-production.

Another Ukrainian premiere in Cannes, which this time preceded the national premiere in Kyiv by one day was Aleksandr Kiriyenko's ILLUSION OF FEAR Based on the best-selling novel by Oleksandr Turchynov (Yulia Tymoshenko's closest ally at political block BYuT) the film has caused some controversy in Ukraine as such, but drew special attention as the Ukrainian premiere was held less than a week before May 25 - scandalous Kyiv Mayor re-elections date (where Oleksandr Turchynov is one of the candidates). In Cannes the film was presented by producer Tetyana Smirnova.

Yet the most successful film presented was beautiful SAPPHO by Robert cromby. Non-political but nor less discussed in Ukraine for its bisexual-themed plot, the film has become Ukraine's biggest national cinema box-office success since the time of independence. In Cannes the Wednesday screening at Palais was attended and very warmly received by numerous film professionals from countries like Finland, Netherlands, Germany, France, Taiwan, USA, UK, Italy, Singapore, Norway, Japan, Korea, Canada, Brazil, Georgia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
Film representatives Artur Novikov and Oleg Malyshevskiy from Yalta Film have sold Theatrical, TV and DVD rights for the film to the biggest number of territories.

Presentation of Yalta Film followed the next day, May 22, with announcement of the studio's new film project in production - animated GOOD SOLDIER SVEJK.

Other events that day included cinema screenings of AN AWESOME TALE by Roman Shyrman - a children movie presented by producer Olena Fetisova and historical biopic VLADYKA ANDREY presented by director Oles Yanchuk, as well as pavilion presentation of 13 MONTHS by Ilya Noyabryov.

(more PHOTOS)

Ukrainian pavilion was operating at No.102 Village International Riviera 10:00 to 18:00 from May 14 until May 25

Great thanks to stand coordiantors Gala Tymoshenko & Sasha Tkachenko who helped the guests providing all details about Ukrainian activities at the Marche, organizing meetings/interviews with director of UCF Andriy Khalpakhchi and all Ukrainian representatives in Cannes and welcoming those who came to pick up a copy of the catalogue of Ukrainian cinema, promo-materials and trailers to Ukrainian films and a drink or two from our general partner Nemiroff.