The 16th Odesa International Film Festival has started in Kyiv

The 16th Odesa International Film Festival started in Kyiv on September 24 and will last until October 4. The event traditionally brought together Ukrainian and foreign artists, film professionals and viewers, offering a rich program of premieres and special screenings. The grand opening ceremony was held at the Parkovy Exhibition and Convention Center. The hosts of the evening were actress and TV presenter Dasha Tregubova, host of the morning project “Snikadok z 1+1” on “1+1 Ukraina” Lyudmila Barbir and host of the program “Vikna Novyny” on STB TV channel Yana Brenzey.

The opening ceremony of the festival started with a minute of silence in honor of the fallen defenders and Ukrainian artists who died during the Russian-Ukrainian war.

In her speach, OIFF President Viktoria Tigipko emphasized the role of national cinema in the world: “Today, the Ukrainian cinema has become the voice of truth and resilience. Our victories at international festivals prove that it is recognizable and needed by the world. This is a film about resilience — the ability to persevere and speak the truth when it is difficult. Strength, creativity, inspiration, resilience — this is the basis of our cultural DNA.”

Festival's General Director Anna Machukh emphasized: “In Ukraine, 16 years is the age of growing up. For me, this year is also an anniversary: I have been with the festival for 15 years and together with it I have gone through the Revolution of Dignity, the beginning of the war, the pandemic, festival editions abroad, and for two years in a row — holding it in Kyiv. We all dream of the day when the OIFF returns home, to Odesa, in peaceful times. The festival has changed along with the country, searching for new meanings and formats, but has always remained a space of freedom, cultural dialogue, and love of cinema.”

Bandura player and experimenter Ivan Tkalenko performed on stage that evening, transforming the traditional instrument into a modern sound laboratory, combining the bandura with electronics and new acoustic effects. Singer Olya Tsybulska added the unique atmosphere to the event, giving the guests a bright performance.

During the evening, guests were treated to entertainment by sponsors ARARAT and Morshynska, and interactive entertainment zones were created by Hisense, L’Oréal Paris, developer RIEL, and Pivdennyi Bank. And the Jewelry Factory prepared collectible coins with a gold “Duke” — the symbol of the festival. The images of the hosts and the festival director were complemented by Carrera Y Carrera jewelry - discreet and at the same time expressive accents that emphasized the solemnity of the event. And BMW Ukraine organized the presence of foreign guests of the film festival.

At the opening, the Head of The Ukrainian State Film Agency Andriy Osipov thanked the organizers of the festival and noted the contribution of Ukrainian filmmakers: “A huge bow to the entire OIFF team from The Ukrainian State Film Agency. We are glad to cooperate and thank you for your many years of work. Ukrainian cinema is not only films, but also people, professionals who believe in their work and continue to create it even in the most difficult times. This arouses sincere respect.”

During 11 days, viewers of the Odesa International Film Festival will be able to watch 113 films, of which 104 are full-length, in 18 programs. The festival's competitive programs are the National Documentary Competition and the European Competition, which present new names and current topics in contemporary cinema. In addition to the competitive sections, thematic programs "Focus on Poland", "German Accent", "Best of Europe", "Gala Premieres", "Festival of Festivals", "The Human Comedy", "Through Friends’ Eyes" and many others are planned. They allow you to see the different faces of Ukrainian and world cinema.

An important part of the OIFF are educational events: panel discussions, meetings with directors, Q&A after screenings, master classes and presentations that open the audience behind the scenes of film production and current industry trends.

Screenings and industry events will take place at the "Zhovten" cinema, the "Oscar" cinema (Gulliver shopping center) and the House of the Architect.

The Odesa International Film Festival remains a space for dialogue and discovery, where Ukrainian and international filmmakers can exchange experiences, and viewers can get acquainted with film projects that shape the cultural landscape of today.

Tickets for the festival can be purchased at the link: https://new.oiff.com.ua/tickets

The Odesa International Film Festival is supported by:

Ukrainian State Film Agency

The European Union and Creative Europe Desk Ukraine

Adam Mickiewicz Institute “Instytut Adama Mickiewicza”

Polish Institute in Kyiv

German Films

In partnership with the Goethe-Institut in Ukraine

Official Sponsor – ARARAT

Official Automotive Partner – BMW Ukraine

General Partner of Film Industry Office – UPHub

Official jewelry partner - Carrera Y Carrera General