Domestic film critics and film journalists have identified ten most important events in the world of Ukrainian cinema in the past year. I am glad that three of them are related specifically to creative activity. And there are fewer events related to the legislative framework, tragic events and bureaucracy.
Two points in the rating each relate to the intensification of documentary production and film distribution of our films.
Rating of the most important film events in Ukraine in 2014:
1. The unprecedented success of the film “The Tribe” (dir. Miroslav Slaboshpytsky) at numerous International Film Festivals (it received three dozen festival awards, including the Grand Prix of the “Critics Week” section of the 67th Cannes International Film Festival).
2. The release of a number of domestic films during the year, as well as films shot with the participation of Ukraine as part of joint production.
3. Activities of the cinematic community “#Babylon’13”.
4. Powerful development of domestic non-fiction cinema and growing interest in it among Ukrainian viewers.
5. Arson of the Kyiv cinema “Zhovten”.
6. Successful all-Ukrainian film distribution of the film “The Guide” (dir. Oles Sanin), which was watched by 360 thousand viewers.
7. Holding Ukrainian Cinema Week in several cities of Ukraine in support of Oleg Sentsov.
8. Carrying out the 44th Kyiv International Film Festival “Youth”.
9. Preservation in the Tax Code of the rule on temporary exemption from payment of value added tax for the professional activities of subjects of the film industry.
10. Activation of the film community to initiate reform of the domestic film industry and strengthen public control over the activities of the authorities in the field of cinema.
Organizer of the survey: Bureau of Ukrainian Film Journalism.