Six feature-length movies were presented to film market audiences and accredited media. Most of them are based on Ukrainian and worldwide literary masterpieces. The films will be released between 2017 and 2020.
The list includes full-length films The Stronghold, The Rising Hawk, Anne de Kiev, Gareth Jones (Kinorob production) as well as full-length animated features The Stolen Princess and Mavka. The Forest Song (Animagrad production).
The completed scenes and a work-in-progress video of The Stolen Princess animated feature were presented to the market audience as well. The trailer will premiere on the internet and in the theatres in September 2017. The film is scheduled for release on March 7, 2018, and so far, the animation has been sold to more than 20 territories – the countries of Europe (Poland, Bulgaria, Germany, Switzerland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia) and Asia, including China and South Korea. In Ukraine it is Novy Channel that has already obtained presales distribution agreement, thus resulting in all StarLightMedia channels and digital resources of the media group being significantly involved in the film marketing campaign. The film will be theatrically distributed in Ukraine by UFD.
It was obvious that the highlight of the event was the national premiere of the first teaser of the full-length animation film Mavka. The Forest Song. In Odesa, the video was presented by producers Iryna Kostyuk, Anna Eliseeva, film director Oleksandra Ruban and costume designer Olga Navrotska. The fortunate guests in Ukraine were the first ones to meet the main characters of the animated feature: Mavka and her helper Swampy. The audience saw the key locations of the film and enjoyed the charmingly fascinating music featured in the film, created and played by the world-famous ethno-house band DakhaBrakha. The European premiere of the teaser on the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and Market was a great success.
On July 18, 2017, the video will become available at all official resources of Animagrad studio and Mavka. The Forest Song feature film, as well as on the official YouTube channel of FILM.UA Group. Though there are still almost two years left till the Mavka premiere, the first teaser to Mavka. The Forest Song will appear on the screens of Ukrainian cinemas in late July. This non-standard approach was conditioned by significant interest of wide audience in the project, which is now in the development stage.
FYI: Ukrainian animated feature The Stolen Princess is the first in Animagrad animation studio’s production slate of animated features intended for international market. It has been already pre-sold to China, South Korea, France and French-speaking territories in Europe, Poland, Bulgaria, Israel, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, as well as countries of the Middle East and North Africa.
Mavka. The Forest Song is a full-length animated feature produced by Ukraine-based Animagrad (FILM.UA Group). It is currently at the concept stage of development. The film is inspired by a play of the same name by Lesya Ukrainka, as well as by various Ukrainian legends and cultural traditions. The film’s production crew includes experts from leading ethnography institutes: the Ukrainian Studies Center at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, the Ivan Honchar Museum, and the Ukrainian Fashion Museum. The experts are there to ensure the authenticity of the Ukrainian myths and legends, religious beliefs, rituals, and visual culture translated into the singular animated world of Mavka. And the world-renowned group DakhaBrakha has already committed to creating the film’s soundtrack.In September 2016, the animated feature Mavka. The Forest Song won the ninth contest held by the Ukrainian State Film Agency and was awarded state financing in the amount of 30% of the film’s total budget. Mavka. The Forest Song is scheduled for release in Ukraine in 2019.
