28 October 2007 18:26

Head of the State Cinema Committee Hanna Chmil Receives Ukraine 3000 Fund’s Award for Developing National Cinema Art

October 28, 2007, Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund Kateryna Yushchenko took part in the closing ceremony of the 37th Molodist International Film Festival.

Mrs. Yushchenko decorated Head of the State Cinema Committee Hanna Chmil with the award for Developing National Cinema Art, established by Ukraine 3000 Fund.

Ms. Chmil has been dealing with the problems of Ukrainian cinema for over a decade. Since 1995 she has been Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine and since 2005 – Deputy State Secretary with the Culture and Arts Ministry. In 2006, Ms. Chmil became Head of the State Cinema Committee. She is deeply respected by cinema people for open-mindedness, steadfastness, professional knowledge and understanding of and love for the cinema and true interest in the fates of its makers.

“We are celebrating a person for whom cinema is the meaning of life. We’ll never see her name in film credits, but many of these films would never happen if not for her,” Mrs. Yushchenko said, handing over the award.

Mrs. Yushchenko also said that the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund and Molodist International Film Festival announced the creation of the Ukrainian Cinema Foundation aimed at promoting the Ukrainian cinema globally.

The Award for Developing National Cinema Art was established by Ukraine 3000 Fund in 2003. It is being awarded annually to the renowned participants in the cinema process in Ukraine, having made a considerable contribution into establishing the Ukrainian cinema in the world. In 2003 film director Roman Balayan became the first laureate of the award, in 2004 it went to film director Kira Muratova, in 2006 – to actress Larysa Kadochnykova, and in 2006 – to founder and head of the Filmotekhnik Company Anatoly Kokush.