The Ninth Day of the Odesa International Film Festival: Screenings, Masterclasses, and New Project Presentations

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The ninth day of the 16th Odesa International Film Festival offered audiences a rich and diverse program that combined retrospectives, European premieres, and Ukrainian documentaries.

The day began with a retrospective of the world-renowned director Wim Wenders, featuring his classic “Lisbon Story”.

Within the “German Accent” program, viewers saw two films: “We All Bleed Red” directed by Josephine Links and “No Mercy” by Iza Willinger.

The “European Competition” this day presented two works — “Mother’s Baby” by Johanna Moder and “U Are the Universe” by Ukrainian director Pavlo Ostrikov.

Director Pavlo Ostrikov shared about his film “U Are the Universe”: “This film was made for you. It’s a story I want to share — a story of the last love in the universe. And if you ever feel lonely, remember: somewhere out there, your other half is waiting for you. You just need to take the first step.” Producer Anna Yatsenko added: “I’d like to ask everyone today to take a deep breath and simply feel this film. We made it with love and kindness, hoping that you’ll laugh — and maybe even cry — together with us.”

Within the “The Human Comedy” section, audiences watched “The Man Who Saw the Bear” by Pierre Richard.

The “Gala Premieres” program featured one of the festival’s most anticipated events — the screening of “Children in Fire” by director Evgeny Afineevsky.

In the “Family Values: Children” section, viewers saw the touching film “About Luis” directed by Lucia Chiarla.

The “National Documentary Competition” was enriched by “A Simple Soldier” directed by Artem Ryzhykov and Juan Camilo Cruz. Artem’s commander, who also appeared in the film, commented: “Artem is an ordinary guy who, like most of us, lived through the first days of the war. Over the years, he filmed a lot of material — so this won’t be his last film. In this one, he serves as director, protagonist, producer, and cameraman.”

The final chord of the ninth day was the screening of “Re-Creation” by Jim Sheridan and David Merriman from the “Festival of the Festivals” program.

Beyond the screenings, the day was marked by an intensive professional program. Participants had the opportunity to attend three masterclasses.

Director Joshua Zeman held a practical workshop titled “Creating a Narrative Documentary Film”: “I take documentary footage and make it look as cinematic as possible,” — Zeman explained. He emphasized that structure is the key to storytelling:“Everything begins with structure — three acts, the setup, the point of no return, the climax.”

At the same time, Zeman warned about the challenge of the third act: “In documentary filmmaking, everyone can have a strong beginning — but very few manage the third act. The third act is a gift from the gods of cinema. You can’t control it; you can only hope the story itself will grant it to you.”

He also shared his aesthetic principles: “My approach is to create a documentary with suspense.” “In filmmaking, there is no absolute truth — only the truth of the story you serve.” “Documentary cinema isn’t just about facts; it’s about crafting drama so that the viewer forgets they’re watching a documentary.”

Zeman offered a valuable piece of advice for documentary filmmakers: “Always remember — you’re not just a director, you’re also a historian. You decide which parts of the truth to reveal and which to hold back for effect.”

Another session, “How to Tell Stories of the World: The Art of Documentary Filmmaking Abroad”, featured Lithuanian director Artūras Jevdokimovas, who shared his experience working across different cultures and international projects: “I’ve filmed in very different and sometimes strange places and cultures. The biggest challenge for me has always been finding a way into that community.”

He emphasized that the key is deep immersion in the lives of the characters: “We never rush the process. We spend time — we drink, eat, sleep with these people — to truly learn about them.”

He also stressed the importance of understanding the audience: “Of course, when making a film, it’s crucial to consider all possible audiences — festival viewers, ordinary audiences, TV audiences, and, most importantly, the locals whose stories you’re telling. The greatest reward is when they say, ‘That’s true — there’s no lie in it.’”

The professional block concluded with the masterclass “The Art of Pitching: Secrets of a Successful Film Project Presentation”.Lithuanian producer Ringailė Leščinskienė shared her approach to communicating with the audience: “I try to be natural and play with the audience. I perform all the roles I inhabit — a mother, a producer — and can introduce myself in any of those ways.” She also highlighted the importance of belief in a project: “The producer’s job is to support the project from the very beginning — not to take over the director’s role or tell the story themselves, but to believe in it wholeheartedly.”

Producer Ivana Hitsinska emphasized the psychological aspect of pitching: “When you start your pitch with humor, people open up. And of course, it’s vital to read the mood of the audience.”

The “Film Industry Office” section continued its work throughout the ninth day of the festival. This is where filmmakers present new ideas, seek co-production partners, and build the path of their films from concept to audience. That day featured a large-scale presentation of feature, documentary, and animated films in the “Development” and “Work in Progress” stages.

The 16th 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

Technological Partner -Hisense