8 minute read
The Ukraine Effect
AS THE UKRAINIAN FILM INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO REACH OUT FOR SUPPORT HOW IS CENTRAL EUROPE LENDING A HAND?
With surrounding countries feeling the shock waves of the Ukrainian conflict, regional film industries have joined forces to support Ukraine and its creatives, displaying a sense of solidarity through the arts. makers explores how Poland and Croatia’s continued collaborative efforts with Ukraine are influencing their approach to production.
In the months following the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the local film industry has been flipped on its head. With many Ukrainian film professionals taking to the front line and creative spaces being turned into shelters, the future of the local industry has been dependent on the support of those across the world.
“During the war, film production almost stopped,” commented Anna Volkova of the Ukrainian Motion Picture Association. “Most ongoing film projects were halted, except for those in the final stages of production.” With the redirection of investment towards the war, many creative projects and those involved in the industry have had to fall to the sidelines. As FILM.UA’s studio spaces continue to double as a bomb shelter and creative projects are being handed off, neighbouring countries in Central and Eastern Europe have stepped in to show their solidarity.
The regional support of Central and Eastern Europe has been a force in somewhat taking on the Ukrainian film industry as their own. From festival recognition to productions including Ukrainian
talent, both on and off screen, the countries involved are showing how solidarity with Ukraine is becoming an integrated practice of their own approaches to production.
Sharing a border with Ukraine, Poland is at the forefront of supporting displaced citizens affected by the war. This support was not limited and extended across all industries, including the screen sector.
“The war is very serious issue that we all are very much concerned with. All the people in Poland feel how it affected all the elements of our lives,” commented Jagoda Litkowiec, head of new business at Graffiti Films.
With those Ukrainian workers involved in labour oriented production, such as set building, having to leave Poland to fight in their homeland, and many others coming in to the country to seek working opportunities, the industry structure was presented with the interesting task of acquainting a brand new workforce with an unknown industry.
We have seen an example where a production house created a place where all visual industry professionals who found themselves in Poland, could meet,” commented Syzmon Gruszecki, Graffiti Films CEO. “During those meetings they could not only exchange their contact lists, but also learn about job opportunities and get a basic idea of how Poland’s industry works, what’s possible and what the key industry hubs are. Some companies started to provide free lessons for Polish language whilst some others have provided free office space for those working online and needing a bit of good office comfort with reliable Wi-fi connections.”
Between having to deal with language barriers and an oversaturation in particular sectors of the industry, Polish film professionals needed to reevaluate their approach to the production sphere as they knew it. With many displaced Ukrainian citizens taking on odd jobs, productions have had to quickly adapt, providing opportunities for those awaiting the return to their local industry. Very much involved in supporting Ukrainians during the trying times, Graffiti films have extended a hand in all aspects including their involvement with an artistic project called Ukrainian Women Portraits, by Ukrainian producer Anastasia Solonevich.
“Graffiti Films initially came up with a plan of creating a Ukrainian unit where we planned to create, as soon as possible, a fully independent film sector including crew starting from executive producers down to production assistants,” added Gruszecki.
Aiming to give an opportunity for Ukrainian women to become reacquainted with their cultural identity, outside of the war, the photo session produced by Solonevich went way deeper than anyone could have ever expected.
As Ukraine continues to push through with projects such as the Ukrainian-Polish co-production of full length improvisation drama Two Sisters the story of a journey into the war torn country, from the perspective of outsiders, and Netflix’s acquisition of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s satirical series Servant of the People, Ukraine is still in search for funding stability to sustain its creatives.
Lukasz Karwowski, the director of the film, says, “Working in Ukraine was an amazing adventure. I met very honest, very professional, as well as very emotional and positive people. I have shot in other countries before, so the professional team I met was no different from others. The difference was that everyone wanted to make a commitment, everyone wanted to do their best, everyone believed in the story and could feel the unique relationship between Poland and Ukraine, between Polish and Ukrainians. While shooting certain scenes, I saw tears in the eyes
“WORKING IN UKRAINE WAS AN AMAZING ADVENTURE. I MET VERY HONEST, VERY PROFESSIONAL, AS WELL AS VERY EMOTIONAL AND POSITIVE PEOPLE.”
SOLIDARITY
INVESTMENT PRODUCTION
Two Sisters © film.ua
FROM THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES WITH WAR , CROATIA APPROACHED THE RECENT CONFLICT IN UKRAINE WITH AN EMPATHETIC TOUCH, SUPPORTING THE PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF UKRAINIAN PROJECTS. of the Ukrainian team. It was a privilege for me to work with gorgeous and very talented Ukrainian actors. There were no language issues, as I decided that the Polish actors would speak only Polish, and the Ukrainian ones – only Ukrainian. And that works very well in the story.”
“Ukrainian filmmakers are open to new coproductions and cooperation in spite of the war. But the industry desperately needs financial support,” commented Anna Volkova, Project Manager at Ukrainian Motion Picture Association.
As part of an aid initiative launched by the Polish Film Institute for Ukraine in response to the invasion, a call for applications was made under the new Polish-Ukrainian Film Initiatives Operational Programme. Announced by Radosław Smigulski, director of the Polish Film Institute, the aim of the programme is support Polish and Ukrainian producers and authours on their projects.
The first four priorities under the operational programme tackled the development and production of documentaries, animated films, script writing, and festival and film initiatives. The fifth, which is more financially oriented, contributed approximately EUR2.1 million to the Polish-Ukrainian film initiatives in 2022.
“Its purpose is to support activities carried out jointly by Polish, Ukrainian or Polish-Ukrainian producers and authors, and in particular to create conditions for Ukrainian citizens to continue creative work in the field of cinematography,” commented Marzena Kleban, Festivals & International Projects Manager at the Polish Film Institute. “So far, under the production priorities, the Polish Film Institute has co-financed five film projects and eight projects under Priority IV: Festivals and Film Initiatives.”
Also amplifying Ukrainian voices and talents, Estonia’s Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has included actress Daria Polunina amongst the honoured at the event. Polinina, whose credits include 2019 family feature Foxter & Max and upcoming Netflix series The Girl And The Astronaut from director Bartek Prokopowicz, was selected “as a sign of support to the actors community in Ukraine” and a continued effort to champion the talents of the country.
From their own experiences with war, Croatia approached the recent conflict in Ukraine with an empathetic touch. With a history of collaboration between the two film industries, Croatia’s support of Ukrainian creatives during this time was a natural choice. Prior to the war, Croatia and Ukraine joined forces for two important projects showcasing the respective talents of each country. But with the ongoing conflicts, production and distribution was handed off to Croatia, allowing for releases to go ahead after the invasion started. Butterfly Vision and The Silence bring Ukrainian stories to the stage, with the support of Ukrainian crew alongside the support of their European counterparts.
Ukrainian director Maksym Nakonechnyi’s Butterfly Vision tells the harsh and surreal story of Lilia, a Ukrainian woman talking about her post war imprisonment life. Facing the hardships of returning to her life as a soldier and wife, Lilia must contend with the disposition of being labelled as a victim.
The premiere of The Silence in Croatia corresponded with the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Based on the trilogy of novels by investigative journalist Drago Hedl, filming for it took place in both Croatia and Ukraine, making use of a multinational crew.
Based on true events, the story follows the horrors of a human trafficking case in Kyiv and the Croation town of Osijek. The six-episode series directed by Dalibor Matanic is produced by Croatia’s Drugi Plan and Radiotelevision. Beta Film took the lead on co-production, joined by Star Media and OLL.TV from Ukraine and ZDF/ARTE.
“These days the team of Drugi Plan, with great sadness, recognise the exact spots in Kyiv where they filmed in 2021 that are now shown in the news as areas struck by Russian projectiles,” commented Tanja Ladovic Blaževic, Head of Filming in Croatia.
Whilst Eastern and Central Europe have extended a hand in supporting Ukrainian creatives, the respective nations have continued to reassure international filmmakers of the safety in each of their territories.
As neighbours of invaded territory ,the respective nations have recognised the need to adapt to their circumstances. Welcoming international filmmakers to the safety of their borders, nations of Eastern and Central Europe are reassuring the global market that they still open. But whilst business goes on in spite of the extreme upheavals to daily Ukrainian life, the underlying social responsibility to their Ukrainian counterparts, is very much still alive.
“FESTIVALS CONTINUE TO SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH UKRAINE. ESTONIA’S TALLINN FILM FESTIVAL, FOR EXAMPLE, CELEBRATED UKRAINIAN TALENT.”
HOPE INITIATIVES
COLLABORATION
