Ukrainian Animation Features in Cannes: The Stolen Princess and Mavka. The Forest Song at Marche du Film
On May 17-26, a major film market Marche du Film was held under the aegis of the 70th Cannes International Film Festival where feature animation projects from Animagrad (FILM.UA Group) participated, namely The Stolen Princess (premiere scheduled for March 7, 2018) and Mavka. The Forest Song (premiere in 2019). They were presented by FILM.UA Distribution.
On May 19 and 23, market screenings of The Stolen Princess were held with great success; as a result, the project received a lot of positive feedback, and negotiations on selling rights for cartoon demonstration on new territories started.
Mavka. The Forest Song spurred special interest among foreign producers, buyers, and distributors.
Animagrad projects were also presented in the national pavilion in International Village; the pavilion was set up by key players of the Ukrainian film market. The work of the stand included a range of events to popularize Ukraine on the international arena.
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 late 2018–early 2019.
