Most Ukrainian directors dream of having their film’s local debut at the annual Odesa International Film Festival, the country’s most influential cinematic event.
Many of those dreams were crushed last year due to the COVID19 pandemic, and although the festival had a successful online run in 2020, its offline return this year is much anticipated.
“People are looking forward to what they looked forward to in previous years,” Anna Machukh, the festival’s executive director, told the Kyiv Post. “Good films, good atmosphere and the industry aspect — film professionals and good networking.”
The festival will take place on Aug. 14–21 in the Black Sea port city of Odesa, nearly 500 kilometers south of Kyiv.
As per the event’s tradition, it will host big international and Ukrainian premieres, screening more than 60 films in total, hold film workshops and red-carpet festivities.
Great selection
The 12th festival is bringing back what was lacking in the online format, the inescapable, contagious atmosphere of celebrating cinema that spreads across the city.
The opening ceremony will, as usual, take place at the marvelous Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, marking the start of the eight-day event.
The jury of the international competition program arrives at the red carpet ceremony of the 10th Odesa International Film Festival near the Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater on July 12, 2019. (Oleg Petrasiuk)
Another ritual, an outdoor screening on the Potemkin Stairs is set to resume too. Free of charge, these screenings attract hundreds of viewers to enjoy a selected retro movie in an iconic Odesa location that became internationally known thanks to the Soviet film “Battleship Potemkin.” This year, the stairs will host the screening of Charlie Chaplin’s “The Kid,” celebrating 100 years since its release on Aug. 21, the festival’s closing day.
The Odesa International Film Festival is known for its selection of foreign film premieres that are usually not available in regular Ukrainian cinemas. This year is no exception.
One of the big premieres is “The Green Knight,” an epic medieval fantasy film. Featuring British star Dev Patel in the lead role, the film follows Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s reckless and headstrong nephew on a quest to confront the Green Knight.
Another anticipated release is the Iranian-French thriller “A Hero,” the Grand Prix winner of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. “Anette,” which brings together an Oscar-winning cast of Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, is another must-watch. The musical takes a peek at a glamorous life of a standup comedian and opera singer couple, whose life takes a turn when their gifted daughter Anette is born.
Spotlighting Ukraine
For the first time in years, the festival is dropping the international competition, one of its most popular programs.
The team made the decision mainly because of the pandemic, as global travel restrictions made it difficult to bring in film crews for presentations and Q&A sessions.
But the ongoing crisis gave the event an opportunity to spotlight more local cinema. And coming up right before Ukraine’s 30th birthday, the timing couldn’t be better.
Machukh assures that this year’s festival has a great selection of new Ukrainian films.
One of the most anticipated Ukrainian premieres is “Olga,” produced in collaboration with Switzerland and France. The winner of best screenplay at the 74th International Critics Week, a parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival, the feature follows the story of a teenage Ukrainian gymnast at the turn of the EuroMaidan Revolution that deposed Ukrainian ex-President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014. The picture will be screened in one of the non-competition programs.
The guests of the Odesa International Film Festival listen to English director and writer Mike Leigh, as he speaks at the meet-the-artist session at the Rodina cinema on July 14, 2019.
The festival program also contains two competition selections of feature-length and short Ukrainian films. One of the competitors is “StopZemlia,” a coming-of-age drama set in Kyiv that won the highest award in the youth section of the recent Berlin International Film Festival.
Another treat is a special selection of top Ukrainian premieres in a non-competition program and some retrospective screenings of local-made cinematic masterpieces.
“We have a great retro selection, those kinds that show the history of Ukraine in 30 years of independence,” Machukh said.
The closing usually includes a red carpet with limited access. This year, however, the closing awards ceremony will be a grand event, accessible to everyone and held on the Potemkin Stairs. Being held in time to be an early celebration of Independence Day, the ceremony’s dress code has been set as traditional Ukrainian elements in attendees’ outfits.
Pandemic measures
The organizers have prepared for any potential challenges presented by COVID-19.
“We had to think of what to do if there would be a lockdown, a partial lockdown or a quarantine,” Machukh said. “For all of us and the industry, until the story of coronavirus ends, we will have to keep all these factors in mind with any event.”
All arriving guests will have to show a recent negative COVID-19 test or a vaccination certificate. In addition, all entrances will have temperature checks and require attendees to wear masks.
Still, compared to last year, the 2021 festival should be a big improvement.
We are very happy to be back to the full-fledged offline format and to give our viewers and the industry a chance to spend eight days in Odesa amidst the film festival atmosphere,” Machukh said.
Tickets and prices
A regular festival pass costs Hr 1,300 ($48) and includes access to all film screenings and workshops.
Film professionals pass costs Hr 450 ($17) and aside from the regular program, gives access to all film industry events like pitching.
The summer school pass costs Hr 290 ($10) for beginning filmmakers and film industry students and gives access to limited screenings and workshops.
Get tickets at www.oiff.com.ua.
Tavel and stay
Multiple trains and buses run daily from Kyiv to Odesa.
A 7.5-hour daytime train averages at Hr 461 ($17) for a second-class seat. The overnight train costs Hr 725 ($27) for a second-class bed. A bus trip takes 6–7 hours and starts at Hr 350 ($13).
Renting an apartment via the Airbnb service in Odesa costs $40– 100 per night. There are a variety of hotels in downtown Odesa that charge Hr 500–2,000 ($19–74) per room.
