As time passes by, it is hard for us to notice the changes in us and people around. The starting point is often missing. But if we turn back, we are truly impressed by the fact that today we are so not like those who we were yesterday, let alone older days. Today we can discuss problems of queer people in Ukrainian society in the press, on TV, in private conversations and international conferences. There are still a lot of those problems and there will hardly be fewer in the nearest future. But today we can at least talk and debate them almost freely. And only seven years ago everything was different...
In February 2001, Molodist festival director Andriy Khalpakhchi and I took part in annual meeting of gay and lesbian film festivals organizers in the framework of Berlinale. Chairman of the Teddy Award Foundation Christian Peters complained that despite a great number of theme festivals Teddy still hadn’t got any brothers or sisters. That is, no other big cinema festival supported their idea to award the best gay and lesbian film among works participating in all festival programs. Andriy then promised in public that we would do it in Molodist and earned hearty applause. No sooner said than done. He didn't stop on receiving an ovation in Berlin and already in autumn of the same year in the framework of 31st Molodist a program named “Loving Differently” appeared, and I was in charge of it. We decided to name the prize for the best film "Sunny Bunny”.
Now it is already an ancient business. And at the time we had to listen to a lot of criticisms and accusations of all deadly sins. We experienced opposition, mockery and downright offenses. But Sunny Bunny disarmed opponents with his cute smile and conquered more and more supporters. And when today we note that Ukrainian society has become more tolerant to those who are destined to love differently, let us not forget to say thank you to Sunny Bunny - he is also involved. And his involvement has been really important.
Anatoliy Yerema
From 2001 to 2005 Sunny Bunny existed as parallel competition which gathered international jury, chose among all Molodist films the one most significant for the LGBT-community and awarded it on a special night with a symbolic prize - toy bunny with a little looking glass attached.
In 2006 and 2007 queer films were presented as non-competition screenings, yet united into their own special programs, organized respectively in cooperation with Paris Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and with Berlin International Film Festival (to the 20th anniversary of the Teddy Award of Berlinale selection of this prize winners from all years of its existence was shown).
This year the program will include both competition and non-competition elements, as well as several presentations and special events, award ceremony and closing party, and for better orientation separate Sunny Bunny mini-catalogue is planned.
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