Chrysanthemum Day
Svâto Xryzantem

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Film synopsis

A story of relations between a young medical doctor and her patient – an old “flower-woman”, known as a healer, who mysteriously survives a nuclear explosion, having completely lost her memory and identity. With clear orders to achieve results, the doctor manages to bring back some memory, little by little, but these memories become unbearable for the old healer. The doctor then realizes that if she dies, there might be no future for humanity...​

Director’s filmography

Simon Mozgovyi (1992) is a Ukrainian filmmaker, screenwriter, film editor, producer, and actor. He studied Cinema and Television Arts at the Kharkiv State Academy of Culture (B.A.). After graduating in 2013, he went on to study an advanced-level course in dramaturgy in Kyiv, where he began acting at the DAKH Theatre (2013–2018). Now, he works as a freelance filmmaker. Simon’s documentary film The Winter Garden’s Tale (2018) premiered at Ji.hlava IDFF, and then participated in DOK Leipzig, Full Frame, Docudays UA, and others. His filmography includes the documentaries Salt from Bonneville (2021), and Orpheus Is Standing On the Bank of the Styx (short, 2022). ​

Producer’s filmography

Alex Chepiga is a Ukrainian producer. In 2003, he co-founded the cinema company, Arthouse Traffic, and in 2009 he worked as creative director of Odesa IFF. Since 2013 he has been working in filmmaking, and has participated in creating short films and music videos in positions ranging from crew administrator to executive producer. Among others, he produced The Winter Garden’s Tale (2018). 
Artem Koliubaiev is a creative producer who has launched more than 10 TV projects in different genres, and produced several feature and documentary films. Since 2013, he has been a co-owner of the Mainstream Pictures production company. His recent releases include Carol of the Bells (2022), Salt from Bonneville (2021), Kruty 1918 (2019). ​

Author’s statement

We are living in dark times. The premonition of a Nuclear War is hanging in the air. The core idea of the film is to reproduce the feeling of devastation which will come to global society as a whole if this ever happens. The importance and uniqueness of a single human life in the face of the war machine inspired me when I wrote this script in 2014. I wanted to create a subtle, intimate world of the protagonists, and, in contrast to it, a fantastical, empty, and cold external world without love. On the one hand, we will see the consequences of the total destructive force of nuclear war, and on the other, the much smaller, but just as powerful force — the gift of healing.​

Contact / Presenters

Mainstream Pictures LLC
Olesia Honchara St, 15/3, 1025, Kyiv, Ukraine
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 444 032 860
www www.mnstrm.com

Simon Mozgovyi | Director, Scriptwriter
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 979 875 720

Artem Koliubaiev | Producer
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 996 577 715

Company Of Steel
Zalizna Sotnya

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Film synopsis

After enduring the horrors of the war in eastern Ukraine since 2014, three young veterans return home. As they struggle to find their place in daily life as civilians, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 throws them right back into the trauma that they tried so hard to escape.

Director’s filmography

Yuliia Hontaruk studied film directing at Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema, and Television University. Since 2013, she has been a member of National Union of Cinematographers in Ukraine. Yuliia became one of the founders of the creative association #Babylon'13. She directed over 35 short documentaries and several full-length films for Babylon'13. Her latest short was Fortress Mariupol. Last day at Azovstal co-directed with a soldier, Orest from Azov. Yuliia’s films have been presented at IDFA, Ji.hlava IDFF, and Trieste IDFF.

Producer’s filmography

Ivanna Khitsinska is a Ukrainian producer and festival manager. She is a member of the Ukrainian Film Academy. Producer in #Babylon'13. Co-founder of Quatros Group. 
Alexandra Bratyshchenko is a Ukrainian producer. Since 2015, she has been a producer within #Babylon'13. In 2019, she took part in EAVE on Demand. In 2020, she founded the Eleron Pictures production company. Alexandra is a member of the Ukrainian Film Academy. 
​Uldis Cekulis has worked on almost 50 creative documentaries as a producer, and sometimes as a cameraman. Most of his produced or co-produced films have received prestigious awards, such as the Shanghai IFF Golden Goblet and the Karlovy Vary IFF Crystal Globe.

Author’s statement

It’s about the experience that heroes gain in the war, about the initiation they go through, while accepting death. To survive the war and not be afraid to perform tasks, you need to accept the fact that you are already dead. There may be no tomorrow. The acceptance of death has a huge influence on a man. One of our heroes calls it roasting, after which you return to a peaceful life, and feel like a superhuman. It was the most important discovery for me in the 1.5 years that I was following the heroes in the war, and then another three years in their civil life. I also found a message for myself, that life is stronger than death.​

Contact / Presenters

#Babylon'13
Yaroslaviv Val St. 9, apt 6, 01034, Kyiv, Ukraine
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 675 388 668

VFS Films
Lapu iela 17, LV1002, Riga, Latvia
Email: [email protected]
www vfs.lv

Yuliia Hontaruk | Producer, Director
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 504 416 049

Alexandra Bratyshchenko | Producer
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 631 298 144

Uldis Cekulis | Producer
Email: [email protected]

Demons
Demony

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Film synopsis

Slavik, a homeless man from Russia, finds himself in Gogol’s places near Sorochyntsi. In order to survive the winter, he becomes friends with Ninka, an older woman. However, he underestimates the scale of her personality and the peculiarities of the region that overwhelm the uninvited guest.​

Director’s filmography

Natalka Vorozhbyt is a Ukrainian film director, playwright, and scriptwriter. Her debut movie Bad Roads (2020) won the Film Club Award at Film Critics Week of Venice IFF as the best innovative film, and was chosen as a Ukrainian candidate for the American Academy Awards 2022. She is the author of more than 15 plays that have been staged around the world, including the Royal Court Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in the United Kingdom.​

Producer’s filmography

Dmytro Minzianov is a co-founder of Kristi Films. A producer, with more than 15 years of experience in TV series, movies, and advertising. He is a member of the Ukrainian Film Academy. He produced Bad Roads by Natalka Vorozhbyt; Graduation '97 by Pavlo Ostrikov (nominee as the best European short film, EFA Award, 2018); Pryputni by A. Nepytaliuk (OIFF Award for the best Ukrainian film, 2017). 

Denis Ivanov is a Ukrainian producer, film distributor, head of the Arthouse Traffic film company, and a member of the European Film Academy. Among others, he produced Rhino by Oleh Sentsov (2021), The Tribe by Myroslav Shlaboshpytskyi (2014), Donbas by Serhiy Loznytsia (2019), and Black Level by Valentyn Vasianovych (2018).​

Author’s statement

This is a story about relations between a very different man and woman, about their unique cosmic system, about intimacy and chemistry, about the inability to come to an agreement, Russian and Ukrainian in one bottle, fuelled with moonshine, and carefully stirred. If an alien arrived in a Ukrainian village, he would see the local way of life as something fantastic and intangible. We want to make our story, our village, and our characters seen through an alien’s eyes. It will be focused on everyday objects from an unusual angle. The artistic solution of the film is a detailed realistic approach, going beyond mere realism. Perhaps it could even be called magic realism.  ​

Contact / Presenters

Kristi Films
Kyiv, Ukraine
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +38 098 583 9505

Arthouse Traffic LLC.
Shchekavitskaya street, building 30/39, office 282, 04071, Kiev, Ukraine
Email: [email protected]
www www.arthousetraffic.com

Natalka Vorozhbyt | Director
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 674 446 227

Dmytro Minzianov | Producer
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 674 684 230

Denis Ivanov | Producer
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 503 868 395

Diagnosis: Dissent
BožeViĺni

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Film synopsis

Soviet Ukraine, 1977. Andrii gets arrested for putting a forbidden rock band live on the air on a radio station. He is accused of anti-Soviet propaganda and sent to a special mental hospital, without trial. At the same time, KGB agents are developing a special operation to expose saboteurs inside the hospital. Some of the patients or staff have sent proof to the US that psychiatric treatment is administered to mentally healthy people on political grounds. The KGB agent puts pressure on Andrii’s family. Andrii can protect his family by exposing the saboteurs. However, he understands that sending materials to the West is the only chance of stopping the torture inside this hospital.​

Director’s filmography

Denys Tarasov was born in 1984. In 2008, he graduated from Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema and Television University. In 2005, he started working in television as a director and live broadcast director of entertainment shows aired on the Ukrainian TV channels: Inter, First National Channel, K1, 1+1, ICTV, Novy Channel, NLO TV, 2+2. In 2016, he co-produced and directed the TV series Patsyky (Guys) produced by Studio Kvartal 95 for TV channel ICTV. In 2017–2021 he directed TV series for the TV channels owned by Ukrainian media groups 1+1 Media, StarLight Media, and Media Group Ukraine.​

Producer’s filmography

Taras Bosak was born in 1981 in Kyiv, Ukraine. A graduate of the National Technical University of Ukraine, Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Taras finished a training programme for producers by Inter Media Group. In 2015, after 10 years of experience in video production as co-founder and producer of the advertising agency, Liberty, Taras joined the film production company, Mainstream Pictures. From 2016 to 2020, Taras produced and executive produced four feature documentaries, three narrative features, and one TV movie. In 2020, he became the head of the state-owned film studio, National Cinematheque of Ukraine, and continues to work on film projects as co-producer and executive producer.​

Author’s statement

This film tells the story about the historical fact when political dissidents in the Soviet Union were diagnosed with so-called “sluggish schizophrenia”, in order to isolate and break individuals who refused to submit themselves to state authority. We will show how the Soviet Union tried to hide crimes of “punitive psychiatry”, and the means it used. The psychiatric hospital is a reflection of the USSR, where propaganda was used, instead of psychotropic drugs. Our story is about freedom of thought, about those who were not afraid, about those who wanted to convey and tell the world what medical and political crimes were committed in the Soviet Union.​

Contact / Presenters

Denys Tarasov | Director
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 671 060 661

Taras Bosak | Producer
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 675 087 087

Do you love me?
Ty mene ĺubyš?

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Film synopsis

One has to be brave enough to accept losing one’s old self for the sake of growing up. Kira becomes an adult very quickly, watching her family and soviet childhood smashing into pieces. Just like Ukraine in the early 1990s, launching a painful process of transformation into an independent country.​

Director’s filmography

Tonia Noyabrova, Ukrainian director, born and raised in Kyiv, in a creative family. She studied directing at the University of Culture and Arts. Usually, Tonia prefers to work in the comedy genre, and is quite successful in it. Do you love me? was her first drama about saying goodbye to childhood, and the lost generation of the '90s.​

Producer’s filmography

Anastasiia Bukovska and Danylo Kaptyukh are co-founders of Family Production. Anastasiia is a director and producer. She’s also a board member of the Ukrainian Film Academy. Bullmastiff, Anastasia's film debut as a director, was released in 2020, and received numerous awards at international film festivals. Deep Frozen Goods, co-produced by Family, will be released by Warner Bros. in 2022. Danylo helped to create national stands of Ukraine on the biggest film forums in the world: Berlinale, Cannes IFF, and Toronto IFF. Along with Anastasiia, he also co-founded the Film Industry Association of Ukraine.

Author’s statement

This is a coming-of-age story of a 16 year-old girl named Kira . Her childhood seemed spotless and wonderful. However, the story plays out in history, in early 1990s Soviet Ukraine, in the era of a total disruption, and calamity. Her family falls apart, the country is crumbling, and everything she knew about life turns out to be an illusion. Looking back at the film from today’s current situation, I see extremely relevant meanings in this story. Everything that galvanizes the air we breathe. Today, all of us Ukrainians are learning to live from the scratch, to start anew. This is a challenge and a test that the protagonist is facing, and it seems to me that we are all facing the same test.​​

Contact / Presenters

Family Production
Vozdvihzenska street 18, 04071, Kyiv, Ukraine
Mobile: +38 044 365 8085

Tonia Noyabrova | Director
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 674 064 644

Anastasiia Bukovska | Producer
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 672 971 282

Danylo Kaptyukh | Producer
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 675 040 144

The Glass House
Dim za sklom

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Film synopsis

A young girl disappears with her older boyfriend. Victoria, the mother of the missing girl, has a seemingly perfect life. It is suspected that the daughter is involved in drug trafficking, but Victoria is less frightened by the dangerous world of drugs than she is of losing her picture-perfect reputation.​

Director’s filmography

Taras Dron is a film director and a member of EFA and Ukrainian Film Academy. He earned his university degree in Protection of Information, and worked as an Inspector of information security at Lviv State University of Internal Affairs. In 2010–2011 – founder and owner of a film and video production studio, and “Nord Production” rental equipment . In 2014–2016 – Taras studied in the Department of the Director at the Leon Schiller National Film, Television, and Theatre School (PWSFTv i T) in Poland. From 2012 to 2019 he worked as a music video and advertisement director for different projects in Ukraine, France, Poland. His film Blindfold won Competition 1–2 at Warsaw Film Festival 2020.

Producer’s filmography

In 2015, director and producer Valeria Sochyvets founded the organization CUC (Contemporary Ukrainian Cinema), with the goal to promote Ukrainian cinema and produce films. Her films took part in many international film festivals, and won over 30 awards and nominations. She has also been a participant of numerous international pitches and co-production markets. In 2020, she was part of an expert board at a national competition for debut short films at Ukrainian State Film Agency. From 2018 to 2022, she was a Board Member of Ukrainian Film Academy. Her portfolio includes 13 short films, 2 feature documentaries, and 1 feature fiction. She holds a BA from Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema, and TV University.​

Author’s statement

The main subject that I want to approach is a shift of responsibility for yourself and your acts on to relatives, your environment. This film is not about drugs and the harm that they cause, though the environment of drug distribution is placed in the centre of the plot, and creates a metaphor for each character’s detachment. The reason for everything that is happening is much deeper; it’s on the level of sub-consciousness and deep fears that, after all, will come out or change in the situation. Structurally, the movie is written as a Greek tragedy, where the main character transforms, but does not change; the changes are happening around her. It gives a sense of a certain picture of society.​

Contact / Presenters

Directory Films
Nyzhnioyurkivska str. 45a, 04080, Kyiv, Ukraine
Email: [email protected]
www directoryfilms.com

Taras Dron | Director
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 676 700 641

Valerie Sochyvets | Producer
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 932 499 150

U Are the Universe
Ty – Kosmos

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Film synopsis

The near future. Space trucker Andriy Melnyk transports radioactive waste on a cargo ship to an abandoned satellite of Jupiter. During another flight, the Earth explodes. Pieces of the planet are destroying everything in their path at breakneck speed, but Andriy manages to escape. Andriy becomes the last person in the universe, but after a while, Catherine, a Frenchwoman from a science station near Saturn, gets in contact. They are completely different people, and are far from each other, but every day Andriy and Catherine want more and more to meet. Even if it will be their last trip.​

Director’s filmography

Pavlo Ostrikov is a Ukrainian director and scriptwriter. In 2007, Pavlo joined the National Aviation University, from which he graduated in 2012 with a Master’s Degree in jurisprudence. His five shorts participated and won awards in many international film festivals, such as Locarno, Tampere, Palm Springs, Black Nights, Brussels, EFA, and others. One of the shorts, Graduation '97 was nominated for the European Film Award, and winner of the Ukrainian Film Academy. Pavlo is a member of the European Film Academy. Now Pavlo is working on his debut feature film, U Are the Universe.​

Producer’s filmography

Volodymyr Yatsenko is a Ukrainian producer. Before joining the film industry, he produced more than 600 commercials. He is the head of the Film Industry Association of Ukraine, and a member of the European Film Academy. From 2020 until 2022, Volodymyr was the first Representative of Ukraine in EURIMAGES. 

Anna Yatsenko is a producer, director, and screenwriter. She has made several shorts as a director, which participated in and won in POFF shots IFF, Palm Spring IFF, Odense IFF, etc. Together, Anna and Volodymyr produced Homeward (2018) – premiered in Un Certain Regard, with Atlantis (2019) – won the best award in Orrizonti in Venice IFF, for Reflection (2021) – in the main competition in Venice IFF, etc.​

Author’s statement

U Are the Universe – the story of the last love of the entire human race, that needs to be recreated for its own sake. This is an attempt to tell the story of the most excellent feeling in the world, one that knows no boundaries. It is important for me to tell this story, because I see myself as the main character. I fear that I can give up on my dream, and stay alone with my problems. This movie reminds me of how important it is to find someone who understands you, even if you need to fly across the whole galaxy! Space has its place in culture, and it is a topic that many artists have made use of. One of the tasks I have set for myself is to create my own unique space, with a Ukrainian hero at its core.​

Contact / Presenters

ForeFilms
Ukraine
Mobile: +380 673 837 508

Pavlo Ostrikov | Director
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 937 020 902

Anna Yatsenko | Producer
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 734 190 873

Volodymyr Yatsenko | Producer
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 673 837 508

When We Were 15
Koly nam bulo 15

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Film synopsis

Tonya is the new girl at school. Dealing with her sexuality, as well as past abuse, she is learning to accept loneliness while trying to find her place in the adult world.

Director’s filmography

Anna Buryachkova’s experience combines more than fifteen years of work with international and Ukrainian audiovisual production studios. Her artwork has been recognized at numerous festivals, including Berlin Fashion Films, Berlin Music Video Awards, Cannes Lions’ Social Campaign Programme. She graduated from Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and TV with honours. When We Were 15 is Anna’s feature debut.

Producer’s filmography

Natalia Libet gained experience in co-production, investment, and finance while working for international companies. Now, she works as a film producer. In 2019–2021, she brought First Cut Lab to Ukraine; her first local initiative was with EAVE in Demand in 2017. She has had annual audits with Big 4, and obtained an MBA in the U.S. Natalia is responsible for the educational programmes at the Film Industry Association of Ukraine. She is a winner of 2000 Edmund Muskie/Freedom Support Act Graduate Fellowship Award, a member of Ukrainian Film Academy, and an alumna of EURODOC. In 2022, Natalia is an Emerging Producer with Ji.hlava IDFF, and a Producer Under the Spotlight at Marche du Film.

Author’s statement

I am an adult who grew up from a broken teenager of the late '90s, one who was not taught how to protect themselves from abusers, those who bully you, or those who rape you. You couldn’t ask for adult help: it was incredibly shameful to be abused. The level of shame has not really reduced since then; and therefore, the most crucial question is still on the table – both for teenagers and adults – while trying to find love and appreciation, aren’t we losing who we truly are? It’s our generation’s drama, set in a rough, edgy, yet romantic tone, with emotional visual storytelling. Powerful and compressed, with psychological close-ups, dedicated to tensions and feelings.​​

Contact / Presenters

Digital Religion (DGTL RLGN) LLC
Ukraine
Email: [email protected]
www https://www.dgtlrlgn.com/about

Anna Buryachkova | Director
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 674 646 989

Natalia Libet | Producer
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +380 675 022 199