Ukraine’s image was boosted in several ways in 2018. Here’s five that made a difference:
Creativity, journalism
Cannes Lions Award
Kyiv-based Banda Agency and design studio Republique won the Bronze Lion Award, a first for Ukraine, in the design category at the Cannes Lions International Creative Festival in June. For Eurovision 2017 branding, Banda and Republique created the slogan “Celebrate Diversity, as well as a logo that depicts circles with different patterns bound together as a traditional Ukrainian necklace. Prior to the Bronze Lion Award, the Banda Agency and Republique received a Grand Prix in communication design at the German Red Dot Awards for their Eurovision branding.
Red Dot Award
Banda Agency also came up with the “Ukraine Now” campaign, rewarded with the Red Dot Award in the category of corporate design in August. Created at the request of Ukraine’s government, “Ukraine Now” aimed to improve an image too often associated with corruption or revolution. The advertising campaign is carried out on video ads and billboards.
International Press Freedom Award
Anastasiya Stanko, a journalist and a co-founder of Hromadske news organization, became the first Ukrainian journalist awarded with the 2018 International Press Freedom Award. Given by the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists, the annual award honors courageous journalists for protecting press freedom. Stanko received the 2018 International Press Freedom Award in New York on Nov. 20.
Music videos
Ukraine became popular for music videos. U.S. pop singer Miley Cyrus, British rock band Bring Me The Horizon, hip-hop duo Twenty One Pilots and other international musicians filmed their music videos in Kyiv during 2018.
British pop singer Calum Scott released his music video, filmed in Kyiv, for the song “You Are The Reason” in early January. For the music video “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart,” by Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson, Kyiv`s Darnytskyi Bridge was closed at the end of October for shooting. The music video was released on Nov. 30 and currently has over 24 million views. Ukraine`s capital also welcomed Twenty-One Pilots, who shot a music video for their hit “Nico And The Niners,” as well as Bring Me The Horizon, who filmed here for the song “Mantra.” Korean band NCT U, British singer Jorjia Smith, a rapper from Belgium Damso and U.S. hip-hop singer Oliver Tree are among musicians who also shot their music videos in Kyiv this year.
Fashion
Madonna, Emily Ratajkowski and Halle Berry are among celebrities wore Ukrainian fashion brands in 2018. Madonna wore hats by Ukrainian designer Ruslan Baginskiy during the photoshoot for the cover picture of August Vogue Italia fashion magazine. Madonna also posted a picture of her wearing Baginskiy`s hat on her Instagram account. The U. S. actress Dakota Johnson chose a white silk dress by Ukrainian brand Bevza for the Marrakech Film Festival on Dec. 3, 2018. Ratajkowski, the U.S. actress, was spotted wearing a dark-ink navy dress by Bevza in September. Smerican actresses Halle Berry and Sandra Bullock chose dresses by Ukrainian designer Elena Reva. Halle Berry wore a dress by Elena Reva for the red carpet of Icon Mann Pre-Oscar Dinner in February. Apart from that, U.S. hip-hop singer Cardi B wore an eco-fur coat by Ukrainian brand WeAnnaBe in December.
Movies
Ukrainian filmmakers continued winning prestigious awards this year.
Sergei Loznitsa, a Belarus-born Ukrainian director, was awarded as the best director at the Cannes film festival`s Un Certain Regard contest for his war drama “Donbas” released in May. Loznitsa`s “Donbas” shows events that happened during Russia’s occupation of eastern Ukraine in 2014 and 2015.
“Breaking Point: The War For Democracy In Ukraine,” by Ukrainian director Oles Sanin, got to 2019 Academy Awards long list in the best documentary feature category. The documentary covers Russia’s war and the EuroMaidan Revolution that ousted Pesident Viktor Yanukovych in 2014
Sport
The Champions League gave Kyiv a chance to show off as a host for several thousand footbal fans from all over the world in May. The final final match between Real Madrid and Liverpool took place in Olympic Stadium on May 26.
Ukrainian judoka Daria Belodid won the gold medal at the Judo World Championship held in Baku in September, becoming another victory for Ukraine`s image. The 17-year-old Belodid also become the youngest world judo champion. Apart from that, Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina won the 2018 WTA finals held in Singapore in October.
