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29 April 2010 18:08

Two Ukrainian Films in This Year’s Competition in Cannes

April 27, 2010, the Cinemateque hall of the Kyiv movie theater hosted a press conference dedicated to the presentation of Ukrainian cinema at the Cannes film festival.

Among the participants of the press conference were Andriy Khalpakhchi, Director of the Ukrainian Cinema Foundation; Maryna Antonova, Deputy Head of the Board of Directors of Ukraine 3000 Foundation; Nataliya Konovalova, Director for Corporative Communications and Public Relations with Nemiroff Company; Kamaliya, actress and singer; Oleksandr Shapiro, director; Serhiy Fomenko, Mandry group’s lead singer.

This year’s Cannes Film Festival will take place May 12-23. It is most significant for Ukraine, since for the first time the festival’s program features two Ukrainian films. Among the 18 films in competition is Serhiy Loznytsia’s Shchastia moye [My Happiness] (Ukraine, Germany, the Netherlands), and in the Special program – Otar Ioseliani’s Shantrapa [Hoodlums] (Ukraine, France).

“Serhiy Loznytsia is more known as a documentary filmmaker. Shchastia moye is his first feature film,” Andriy Khalpakhchi said. He recalled that several years earlier the Ukraine 3000 Foundation announced a scriptwriters’ competition within the framework of the Molodist Film Festival. The script of this film was the winner of the said competition. The Foundation allotted funds for its development, while renowned Ukrainian producer Oleh Kokhan supported the film production. “Unfortunately, the state has not invested any money in filming this movie. Even now, when it has won international recognition, it didn’t make any efforts to duly present it in Cannes,” Mr. Khalpakhchi said.

“The participation of a Ukrainian film in Cannes Competition is a great achievement for its makers and for the country it represents,” Mr. Khalpakhchi said. “We can safely say that Shchastia moye is a strong contender.” Mr. Khalpakhchi said that the global filmmakers’ community gave great attention to this film. Two most important film festivals, Venice and Cannes, competed for the right to include it in their competition. The authors decided in favor of Cannes. Here are some of the films to compete for the Palme d’Or along with Shchastia moye: Another Year by Mike Leigh, Outrage by Takeshi Kitano, La princesse de Montpensier by Bertrand Tavernier, Hors-la-loi [Outlaw] by Rachid Bouchareb, Tournée by Mathieu Amalric, and Utomlennye solntsem 2 [Burnt By The Sun 2] by Nikita Mikhalkov.

Otar Ioseliani’s Shantrapa will be presented in a special program along with films by renowned directors: Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger and Oliver Stone's Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.

Speaking about Ukraine’s pavilion, which will operate for the third year in a row at the Cannes Film Market in Village International, Mr. Khalpakhchi said it would feature three new Ukrainian films: Cholovik moyei vdovy [My Widow’s Husband] by Leonid Horovyts, Dnipro by Oleksandr Shapiro, and Olha Onyshko’s Try istoriyi Halychyny [Three Histories of Halychyna] documentary. Also, the pavilion will present Ukrainian classics and contemporary films on DVD, Ukrainian Films Catalog 2009-2010, etc.

Traditionally, at big film festivals Ukraine throws big receptions-parties to celebrate the Ukrainian cinema. In Cannes the party is scheduled for May 15. “A reception is an important part of any film festival,” Andriy Khalpakhchi says. “It presents grounds for working meetings and socializing by cinema professionals from all over the globe, giving them an insight into culture of the host country.” This year the party will feature Mandry group and its lead singer Serhiy Fomenko and the singer Kamaliya who, incidentally, played the lead role in My Widow’s Husband.

This year’s presentation of the Ukrainian cinema in one of the most important festivals became possible due to the joint efforts by the Ukrainian Cinema Foundation and Nemiroff Company, who implement the Ukrainian Cinema in the World social program since 2008. Its goal is supporting Ukrainian filmmakers, popularizing Ukrainian cinema globally and inside Ukraine.

“In the years of our cooperation we have completed a lot and are content to see that our efforts aren’t futile,” Ms. Konovalova said. “We are happy that our actions bring a great feedback. We will continue our work to give the Ukrainian cinema decent representation on the international scene. I hope that next year we will be able to participate more actively in the biggest cinematic events.”

Ms. Antonova said that the support of the Ukrainian cinema is one of the Ukraine 3000 Foundation’s priorities. She mentioned the For the Development of National Cinema award founded in 2003, which the Foundation bestows upon Ukrainian filmmakers every year at the Molodist festival. “Initiating the creation of the Ukrainian Cinema Foundation, we wanted the Ukrainian cinema to become known in the world. We are very proud of its success,” she said.

The 63rd Cannes Film Festival will be held May 12-23, 2010. Tim Burton is to be Jury President. The festival will open with British director Ridley Scott’s film Robin Hood.