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Official Statement by the Ukraine 3000 Foundation and Ukrainian Cinema Foundation on the allegedly illegal use of the Orange Sky film at the Days of the Ukrainian Cinema in Poland

December 22, 2009, the copyright holders of the Orange Sky film held a press conference, claiming the alleged illegal use of a copy of this film by the Ukrainian Cinema Foundation at the Days of the Ukrainian Cinema in Poland.

December 23, certain mass media began circulating untrue information, referring to the press service of the Socialist Party of Ukraine, aimed at discrediting the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation and Ukrainian Film Foundation.

The Ukrainian Film Foundation states that the demonstration of the Orange Sky within the framework of the Days of the Ukrainian Cinema in Poland was conducted in compliance with all standards for film festivals, including moral ones.

A copy of the Orange Sky was given to the Ukrainian Cinema Foundation by its director Oleksandr Kyrienko. He was informed that the film would be used solely during the said festival.

As for selling tickets to the Orange Sky demonstrations in Polish cities, this practice meets the set standards for conducting film festivals. It is reflected in the International Federation of Film Producers Associations’ corporative standards, by which all the popular film forums are governed and which are being adopted by most countries and private institutions in the cinema sphere. According to these regulations, a festival organizer has a right to sell tickets to no more than five demonstrations, and this will not be considered commercial use. The BO receipts the organizer must use exceptionally for covering the expenses for the festival organization.

At the Days of the Ukrainian Cinema in Poland the demonstrations took place at theaters specialized on festival films. The theaters granted their premises free of charge. Having sold 84 tickets for three demonstrations (three for each city), the Polish party attempted to partially compensate its expenses.

We state that neither the Ukraine 3000 Foundation, nor the Ukrainian Cinema Foundation has obtained any money from BO receipts, and neither did the Pomeranian Voivodeship Cinema Foundation.

We state that neither the Ukraine 3000 Foundation, nor the Ukrainian Cinema Foundation have any bank accounts abroad.

We are surprised with the incomprehensible standing, chosen by the Orange Sky film copyright holders, who request the Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation for her help in “rectification of an injustice,” while disseminating untruthful information on the Foundation’s activities.

We are also surprised that the copyright holders had chosen to put out their statement a month after the festival had finished. The festival was broadly announced, and the Orange Sky film was listed on the program. Why didn’t the copyright holders react then?

We insist that the information disseminated by the press service of the Socialist Party of Ukraine is biased, since it presents the position of only one of the parties. The Ukrainian Cinema Foundation could have set forth its arguments, had it been informed on the planned address by the Orange Sky film copyright holders in advance.

We demand public apology from the SPU to the Ukraine 3000 Foundation and Kateryna Yushchenko personally for disseminating untruthful information.

We advocate constructive dialog between the Orange Sky film copyright holders and Ukrainian Cinema Foundation, which would allow solving the situation in a civilized way.

We are certain that this misunderstanding will be soon settled.