‘We Are Not Going To Stop’: Ukrainian Film-TV Industry Presents Ukraine Content Club at Conecta Fiction

More than a third of Ukrainian refugees accepted for a place to live in Stirling have yet to arrive, according to new figures.

The spectre of the war in Ukraine loomed large at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) on Tuesday as it hosted the annual Work in Progress showcase of the Ukrainian Odesa International Film Festival (OIFF).

The Organization of Ukrainian Producers (OUP) has teamed up with production company Gingers Media to make a documentary about the first month of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Valentina I. Valentini As the war between Russia and Ukraine closes out its fourth month, displaced Ukrainians continue to make their way to safe-haven countries, most without any guaranteed prospects of work.Diana Olifirova — a Kyiv-born and London-based cinematographer — saw the gap that was widening between refugees and the need for work and set about organizing a London networking event that connected recently relocated Ukrainian film and TV professionals with established London industry folk.On Monday, before the doors even opened at the CVP & ARRI Creative Space, a dozen Ukrainian film industry professionals were already waiting outside, seemingly eager for the evening to begin.“It’s important to connect people and not neglect introductions,” said Olifirova whose recent credits include Netflix’s “Heartstopper” and Channel 4/Peacock’s BAFTA-winning “We Are Lady Parts.” Olifirova was astutely aware of the influx of fellow Ukrainians as they reached out to her for connections and possible work.

Alison Hammond gifted long-time West Ham fan James Corden ‘the nicest gift’ ever: a seat from the football team’s former stadium Upton Park. The This Morning host was meeting The Late Late Show presenter as he returned to the UK for special episodes of his US chat-show, which features an iconic mix of celebrity guests including Lizzo, Ed Sheeran, and even President Biden. Gifting him with a welcome home present, Alison handed James ‘an actual seat from the stands of his beloved West Ham’s former stadium,’ as the Gavin and Stacey star’s jaw dropped in excitement and shock.

Mariia Horb travelled over 1,500 miles from her hometown of Kyiv to study in Manchester two years ago. Over the last four months, she has watched her country become a war zone on social media and news channels.

Peter Debruge Chief Film CriticAn intense portrait of personal obsession — à la “Black Swan” — set at the time of 2013’s Maidan Uprising, “Olga” anticipates so much of the current situation in Ukraine. Elie Grappe’s prescient debut begins and ends in a country whose people united against corruption, successfully ousting Russian-friendly president Viktor Yanukovych, though the story takes place mostly in Switzerland (last year, the politically charged drama was that country’s submission to the Oscar international feature category).

Kalush Orchestra have been announced to perform at Glastonbury 2022.The group won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Turin last month with the song ‘Stefania’.Now, they’ve been confirmed to appear at Glastonbury 2022, which will also mark their first ever UK performance. Kalush Orchestra will perform on the Truth Stage in Shangri-La at 1:10am on Friday night/Saturday morning.“We are so excited to be playing at Glastonbury Festival alongside some of the biggest names in music from around the world,” frontman Oleh Psiuk said.

Christopher Vourlias Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, whose feature debut “Pamfir” premiered in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight section, and director and former political prisoner Oleh Sentsov (“Rhino”) are among the Ukrainian filmmakers who say they’re “distraught” by the inclusion of a Russian film in the main competition at the Transilvania Film Festival.In a statement posted on Monday to the Facebook page for “Pamfir,” the filmmakers spoke out against the selection of Russian director Lado Kvataniya’s “The Execution” as one of 12 features competing for the Transilvania Trophy, criticizing the “illusion of cultural reconciliation” created by the festival’s decision and insisting that “art does not exist outside of politics.” The filmmakers noted that Kvataniya’s psychological thriller was produced with the support of the state-backed Russian Film Fund as well as Kinoprime, the $100 million film fund bankrolled by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, who has been sanctioned by the U.K.

Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy get candid about suffering three miscarriages over the last two years.

Ukraine begin to bite.In a move that helps Russian exhibitors save face and avoid expulsion from a major global industry body, the Russian Association of Cinema Owners (RACO) said it had submitted an application to “exit UNIC.” It comes after Hollywood majors exited the Russian market following President Vladimir Putin’s decision late February to invade Ukraine, turning Russia into an international pariah state. The move broadens Russia’s isolation from the rest of the world at a time when its domestic cinema is facing near total collapse.

Holly Jones In tandem with its world premiere in competition at the Young Audiences Short Film Strand at Annecy, the team behind the tender Argentine short title, ‘La Calesita,’ will be offering up a bit of magic to those attending the screenings: Customized tickets for a ride on the town’s ornate, family-owned carousel.The short, written and directed by Annie Award-nominated filmmaker Augusto Schillaci and produced by Reel FX Animation associate producer Oliver Benavidez, tells the heartwarming tale of a proud and determined carousel-keep who finds immense joy in maintaining family tradition by operating the neighborhood merry-go-round.In “La Calesita,” his dutiful and attentive nature is on display as he joyously rides through vivid and colorful Buenos Aires streetscapes en route to work, where he takes a keen interest in the families that visit each day. He plays matchmaker, confidant, and watchful eye, with dignity.

Christopher Vourlias When Dumitrana Lupu took over as the head of the Transilvania Film Festival’s industry program earlier this year, she was tasked with a two-fold mission of continuing to discover and boost emerging talents from the host country, as well as ensuring that the Romanian festival remains a vital meeting place for filmmakers from Southeastern Europe and the surrounding region.To do so, she and the organizing team revamped some of TIFF’s industry sections while ensuring that long-running programs provide continuity for a festival that unspools its 21st edition from June 17 – 26.With a focus on the Black Sea region and its neighboring countries, the Transilvania Pitch Stop has emerged as one of the leading co-production and co-financing platforms for the region’s filmmakers. Among the films supported by the TPS since its inception in 2014 include “Apples,” by Greece’s Christos Nikou, which opened the Horizons sidebar of the Venice Film Festival; “The Man Who Surprised Everyone,” a Horizons prize winner from Russia’s Alexey Chupov; and “La Civil,” by Teodora Ana Mihai, which won the Prize of Courage in the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard sidebar last year.