New York hosts Ukrainian film festival: where, when and what to see

The charitable film marathon CinemaAid was initiated by the State Film Agency of Ukraine. He was joined by Ukrainian producers who teamed up and provided their films for screening. Throughout August, New Yorkers can watch Ukrainian films. Read more about the marathon told the publication "Voice of America".

“Already somewhere up to 100 films are included in the longlist, which includes both documentaries and feature films of any genre. And it is this list of films that we show. The opening of the festival was in Toronto (Canada),” says Ukrainian producer and co-organizer of the festival Artem Kolyubaev.

According to him, before New York, screenings of Ukrainian films have already taken place in Turkey, Jordan and several European countries.

Kolyubaev's tape "Shchedrik" opened the festival in New York.

View the full festival schedule link.

Shchedryk was presented on February 22 by distributors as part of the Winter Film Market in Kyiv. And on the 24th the war began.

“Basically, this is a world premiere. This film was not in theaters. This film has not been seen in Ukraine, but has already been seen in Europe. And there are a lot of such films on this list,” says Kolyubaev.

The festival was opened with the Ukrainian anthem, which was performed by the singer Alyosha. Her husband, the leader of the Antibodies group, is now a paramedic from the 130th Territorial Defense Battalion, along with fellow musicians. Alyosha has been with the children since March in New Jersey, where the singer's mother has been living for a long time.

“I try to support all the measures that are created to raise the Ukrainian spirit, unite, and raise funds. I try to be wherever possible. I do everything here that I can do. Our voice is our voice,” says Alyosha.

Ukrainian philanthropists Yuriy and Tatyana Logush are the curators of the festival in New York. For more than 2 decades they have been involved in the international literary competition "Coronation of the Word". Among his nominations there are also screenplays.

A significant number of scenarios of the winners have already been filmed, including Shchedryk. Tatyana says that unlike other countries where there were mostly single screenings of films, in the USA they managed to organize a whole festival.

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“We wanted to show some history because history repeats itself. But we wanted to show that Ukraine is different, to show its traditions, so we chose romantic, humorous and magical films, even family dramas. This will introduce everyone to exactly Ukraine as it really is,” say Yuriy and Tatyana.

Many filmmakers went to the front, says Artem Kolyubaev. They not only protect Ukraine, but also record chronicles of this war on phones and cameras.

Unfortunately, the film cohort has already suffered losses.

“Personally, my friend Pasha Li, he played in my films, died in Irpin, saving children,” Kolyubaev shared. “The funds raised at the festival will also be used to treat the cameraman and director, who were injured and are now being treated.”

In addition to raising funds to help the film brothers, the goal of the festival is also to find funding that will allow the completion of films whose production was suspended due to the war.

“We have a list of films that, at various stages of production, are now, you might say, stuck. And we are now looking for opportunities to finance, complete or find funds for post-production, - said Kolyubaev. “We have to be present at world film festivals.”

This year Ukraine presented 3 films in Cannes, 2 films will be in Venice.

“There will be problems next year and a year later,” the director assures. – When we come to the fact that there is nothing to show. Therefore, we are fighting to resume production.”

Cultural diplomacy is now one of the pillars of Ukraine's foreign policy, said Oleksiy Golubov, Consul General of Ukraine in New York.

“There is something to shoot and something to show. I think very soon the world will speak in full voice about the Ukrainian school in cinematography,” he says. “Both full-length films and short films that win prizes in world competitions help to understand what modern Ukraine is.”

Film screenings in New York will last throughout August at the Ukrainian Institute of America. Meanwhile, the Logushi spouses are already preparing to continue the film marathon in other US cities.