Ukrainian animated feature MAVKA. THE FOREST SONG to be released in cinеmas in more than 80 countries. Official international trailer

Ukraine’s most anticipated animated release, MAVKA. THE FOREST SONG, which hit movie theaters domestically on March 2, 2023 and set  breaking box-office of the first weekend (189 048 admissions, which beat the first weekend of AVATAR 2: THE WAY OF WATER), is also arriving on big screens and streaming services across the world, including European countries, Middle East countries, USA, countries of Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, and a lot of others. Animagrad studio (FILM.UA Group), known for THE STOLEN PRINCESS (2018), drops its international trailer and reveals details on further international releases.

This spring MAVKA. THE FOREST SONG starts its wide theatrical release across the world as more than 80 countries have already acquired the distribution rights, and the list of territories to see MAVKA is still growing. More than 50 countries have already set the release date, others will announce the dates soon. 

On February 26, ITALIA FILM, MUVI CINEMAS, FILM.UA Group, with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, held a highly attended pre-release screening of the upcoming MAVKA. THE FOREST SONG, giving a start to its further theatrical release across the Middle East (Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen), and North African countries (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, Western Sahara, and other countries), that came on big screens on March 2. On March 5 screening of MAVKA took place in Abu-Dhabi. 

Later, on March 29, Universal Pictures Content Group and KMBO distribution company will release MAVKA. THE FOREST SONG across France, on that day, MAVKA will also hit big screens in Belgium, followed by April releases in New Zealand and Australia (April 6), the Netherlands (on April 19), Italy (April 20), Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo (April 27), Andorra and Spain (April 28), and Vietnam (on April 29), coming to Hungary and Portugal on May 4, Romania on May 12. In Serbia and Montenegro the release is set for June 29, in Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania — for July 14. To Turkey MAVKA will arrive on August 25.

The release dates for the following countries (which also acquired the rights to the animated feature) will be announced soon: USA, Canada, countries of Latin America, South Korea, Mongolia, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and others. 

'Our partners are attracted by the quality of animation, a universal story, a combination of drama and humor, and music', says Evgeniy Drachov, head of FILM.UA Distribution. 'MAVKA. THE FOREST SONG has all the makings of a family animation success, and sales in a large number of territories show that our opinion is shared by professionals all over the world. We hope that the audience will like MAVKA. THE FOREST SONG, because the story of love and struggle for one's world should resonate with people worldwide'.

The animation is inspired by ancient Slavic traditions and rituals, ornaments and patterns, national visual symbols in costumes, folk melodies, and also by the classic fairytale drama “The Forest Song” by Ukrainian poetess Lesya Ukrainka. 

The film first drew international attention when the initial teaser was presented at MIFA content market in 2017, held within the Annecy International Animated Film Festival. It gained further acclaim as the only Ukrainian project to be selected to be pitched at the most significant European animation forum, Cartoon Movie 2017 in Bordeaux, for two years in a row. The project has since grown into a multi-platform IP — Mavka Universe, which brings together people from the creative, technological, and business spheres, scientific and public institutions, and government agencies.

Follow the news of the project on the official Instagram and Facebook, TikTok as well as the website. Watch the trailer by this link.