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Ukraine has a score of talent shows, but no awards the likes of the American Grammies to celebrate the best of the best.

To fill in the gap, Yearly Ukrainian National Award, or YUNA, will be launched on Feb. 8.

Among the nominees are Andrii Danylko, Victor Pavlyk, Iryna Bilyk and Taisiia Povalii.

The idea belongs to the owner of ISTIL Group and Kyiv Post publisher Mohammad Zahoor and Pavlo Shylko, better known as DJ Pasha, who will host and produce the show.

YUNA organizers have had quite an adventure in the past few months. They had to overcome the distrust of performers who are used to corrupt shows, the results of which are pre-determined.

They had to convince many foreign stars to come to Ukraine, a nation which has never paid them a penny in royalties.

They had to convince the skeptics in the audience that the show will be unprecedented.

But despite everything, YUNA is going to happen. Organizers are promising many surprises.

Thomas Anders, a pop singer from Germany and the former front man of “Modern Talking,” Karl Frierson, the former leader of “De Phazz” and many other big names will be taking part.

The YUNA ceremony will last for two hours and be edited down to a 1.5-hour televised version that will be broadcast on Inter channel on Feb. 12.

Wed, Feb. 8, 7 p.m., Palats Ukraina, 103 Velyka Vasylkivska St., 247-2303.
Tickets: Hr 80-1,750
TV broadcast on Inter TV Sun, Feb. 12, at 11 p.m.