Venice Prizewinner Valentyn Vasyanovych, Rising Talent Antonio Lukich Headline Cannes Slate From Ukraine’s ForeFilms (EXCLUSIVE)

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Notable Ukrainian filmmaker Volodymyr Yatsenko, known for works such as “Reflection” and “Atlantis,” is showcasing an array of upcoming feature films by promising new talents within Ukraine’s thriving cinematic scene, during his participation at the Cannes Marché du Film under European Film Promotion’s Producers on the Move.

Even amidst the turmoil that war brings, we persistently work towards creating excellent movies,” the producer shared with EbMaster.

“In spite of all the disorder caused by war, our efforts remain focused on crafting top-notch films,” the producer conveyed to EbMaster.

Yatsenko is completing post-production work on Valentyn Vasyanovych‘s latest project. His last film, “Reflection,” was a contender for the Golden Lion at the 2022 Venice Film Festival, and his previous feature, “Atlantis,” took home the top prize in the Horizons section of that festival.

In a Post-war Ukraine, a disheartened filmmaker grapples with life’s challenges after being denied his movie-making dreams. His wife and child reside in Vienna, reluctant to rejoin their war-stricken homeland, leaving the director longing for peace and normality. Despite his struggles, he clings to hope that better days lie ahead.

This movie, a collaboration between Yatsenko’s ForeFilms (Ukraine), Arsenal Films (Ukraine), and M-Films (Lithuania), received financial backing from the European Solidarity Fund for Ukrainian Movies, Eurimages, and the Lithuanian Film Foundation.

Yatsenko pointed out that the movie “To the Victory!” was made for approximately €400,000 ($446,000) and was filmed without assistance from the Ukrainian government, as they’ve significantly reduced cultural funding during their conflict with Russia. Interestingly, seven of the film’s crew members, including Vasyanovych, appear in the movie playing themselves. Yatsenko predicts an intriguing festival journey for the film following its premiere in the main competition at Venice, which was his last film, “Reflection.

The filmmaker, Antonio Lukich, is currently being financially backed by the producer for the movie titled “Screaming Girl,” which was his first English-language production and won the top award at the Berlinale Co-Production Market in 2024. Prior to this, Lukich’s previous work, a comedy-drama called “Luxembourg, Luxembourg,” was screened in the Venice Film Festival’s Horizons section in 2022. Earlier still, his debut film, “My Thoughts Are Silent,” received a special jury prize at Karlovy Vary in 2019.

The Screaming Girl’s Transformation”

The narrative revolves around a young woman who, following the invasion of Ukraine, relocates to Ireland with aspirations of becoming an actress. Despite this fresh start, she faces peculiar and supernatural occurrences that upend her life, compelling her to rebuild it entirely.

Jessie Fisk, a film producer from Ireland’s Feline Films, has joined the project, which also gained development assistance from Screen Ireland and support for both development and production from the European Solidarity Fund for Ukrainian Films. Yatsenko is currently looking for a co-producer based in another country, with plans to shoot the film in Ireland next year.

Currently, budding director Pavlo Ostrikov, who made waves with his debut feature “U Are the Universe” that screened at over 40 festivals following its premiere in Toronto last fall, is working on his second film titled “Tragedy.” This upcoming project is inspired by an original script and is scheduled to be set in a future where Ukraine has successfully won its war with Russia. The plot revolves around a philosophy professor who is grappling with the loss of his wife, only to have his life turned upside down when the ancient Greek gods reappear on Earth.

The thought-provoking work, “You Are the Universe,” garnering over a dozen international accolades, has been distributed in the United States, Canada, France, German-speaking regions, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Brazil, and Indonesia by True Colours.

As a passionate cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that I’m currently immersing myself in the creative process of Nariman Aliev, a talented director whose debut feature “Homeward” graced the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section in 2019. His upcoming project, titled “Ortalan,” is a poignant WWII drama that follows the heartrending journey of a young boy seeking his family after the tragic deportation of the entire Crimean Tatar population from their ancestral home.

The picture obtained backing for development from the European Solidarity Fund, specifically for Ukrainian films, and had already secured production financing from Ukraine before the conflict. Subsequently, Patrice Nezan of Les contes modernes came on board as a French co-producer.

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2025-05-18 09:19