Movie fans from Ukraine and abroad have flocked to the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa for one of the country’s biggest festivals – the Odesa International Film Festival, which is held on July 14-22.
Sibel Kekilli, who played Shae in the fantasy television drama series “Game of Thrones,” and Irish actor Aidan Turner, who is famous as Kili the Dwarf in Peter Jackson’s trilogy “The Hobbit,” made their appearance on the festival’s red carpet on the opening day.
The Odesa International Film Festival, which is being held for the eighth time, kicked off on July 14 with a red carpet show in front of Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and opening speeches by the festival’s organizers, Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov and other officials.
During the festival, 35 movies will compete for the main prize, the Golden Duke, in three categories: Best International Film, Best Ukrainian Feature Film, and Best Ukrainian Short Film.
While Kekilli is a member of the International Jury board together with German director Christian Petzold, Romanian director Tudor Giurgiu and others, Turner is one of the four jury members who will choose the best Ukrainian film.
The festival screening started with the film “Just to Be Sure” by French writer-director Carine Tardieu, which premiered this year at the 70th Cannes Film Festival.
The Kyiv Post has prepared a list of must-see films that will be also presented during the festival.
A screenshot from the film “The Square.”
“The Square”
Ruben Östlund’s “The Square” was the winner of this year’s Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The film tells the story of a respected curator of a contemporary art museum who gets in trouble after the museum’s PR agency creates an unusual campaign for his show.
“The Square.” (Sweden). July 21. 9 p.m. Rodina Festival Center (104 Mechnykova St.)
A screenshot from the film “Raw.”
“Raw”
“Raw” is a provocative film by Julia Ducournau about a girl who has been risen in family where everyone is vegetarian, who then starts craving human flesh after she is forced to eat raw meat during hazing rituals for freshmen in veterinary school. The film premiered at Cannes in 2016 and was awarded by the International Federation of Film Critics.
“Raw.” (France). July 20. 10 p.m. Rodina Festival Center (104 Mechnykova St.)
A screenshot from the film “Frost.”
“Frost”
“Frost,” a film by Lithuanian director Šarūnas Bartas featuring French actress Vanessa Paradis, received a standing ovation after its May 23 screening at the Cannes Film Festival. The film tells a story of a young Lithuanian man, who volunteers to drive a humanitarian aid truck to Donbas, and who meets different war reporters, one of whom is played by Paradis.
“Frost.” (Lithuania, France). Šarūnas Bartas. July 20. 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Festival Palace (3 Pantaleimonivska St.)
A screenshot from the film “Falling.”
“Falling”
“Falling” is a full-length debut of Ukrainian director Marina Stepanska about two young people falling in love in the post-revolutionary Ukraine. Anton, who came back to his native town after spending two years studying in Switzerland, has been receiving treatment from alcoholism for six months. Katya is going to Germany with her boyfriend, but bumps into Anton before her departure.
“Falling.” (Ukraine). July 19. 11 a.m. 7 p.m. Rodina Festival Center (104 Mechnykova St.)
A screenshot from “Dixie Land.”
“Dixie Land”
Ukrainian director Roman Bondarchuk is famous for his documentary “Ukrainian Sheriffs.” This year he will present his new film about a Kherson-based children’s jazz ensemble called Dixie Land. The film follows the members or ensemble, who are struggling as they are growing up, and their teacher.
“Dixie Land.” (Ukraine). July 21. 9.30 p.m. Rodina Festival Center (104 Mechnykova St.)
A screenshot from the film “Spoor.” (Palka Robert)
“Spoor”
This film by Polish directors Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik tells the story of some mysterious killings in a small mountain village on the Czech-Polish border. While the police can’t catch a killer, an eccentric retired construction engineer Duszejko has her own theory: she thinks that all the people were killed by wild animals.
“Spoor.” (Poland). July 21. 6.30 p.m. Rodina Festival Center (104 Mechnykova St.) July 22. 6.30 p.m. Cinema City (4 Semaforny Ln.)
