Without a red carpet and festivities: the 52nd Molodist KIFF opened in the Krakiv Cinema
The opening ceremony of the 52nd Molodist KIFF was attended by members of the festival jury, among them: Italian actress and director Barbara Cupisti, head of the international competition jury Kamen Balkanski, members of the international competition jury Thomas Stokowski, director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Ukraine Mr. Edoardo Crisafulli, as well as guests and participants: director Ivan Sautkin, film crew of Stay Online, director Oleksiy Radynsky and producer Lyuba Knorozok, Director General of the Ukrainian Institute Volodymyr Sheiko, director and producer Oleksa Hladushevskyi, actress Olena Lavreniuk, producer Serhiy Lavrenyuk, actor Roland Mishko, journalist and host Olena Chychenina, and others.
Speeches were delivered by Rostyslav Karandieiev, Temporary Acting Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, Maryna Kuderchuk, Head of the Ukrainian State Film Agency, and Ricardo López-Aranda Hagu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Spain to Ukraine.
Valentyna Khamaiko and Timur Miroshnychenko, the star hosts of 1+1 News, announced the jury members and presented the festival’s competition and non-competition programs. They also highlighted that this year marks the 30th anniversary since Molodist acquired the status of an international film festival through registration with FIAPF. Furthermore, the festival’s prestigious award, the Scythian Deer, which is now crafted by the Kimberli jewelry house using gilding and diamonds, is also celebrating its 30th anniversary.
The evening began with a note of gratitude to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, due to whom it’s still possible to hold the festival in Kyiv. 1+1 media is the main media partner of the festival.
Andrii Khalpakhchi, Director General of Molodist KIFF, presented the festival’s opening film Romeo and Juliet (1968), which is also part of the retrospective program “Century”. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the film’s director Franco Zeffirelli. Before the screening, the audience observed a minute of silence to honor the defenders of Ukraine who fell on the battlefield.
“It is truly touching to witness Molodist throughout the years. This festival has withstood different eras, from the Orange Revolution to the Revolution of Dignity, and it persevered even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, despite the ongoing war, we are here with you. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our defenders who have enabled us to continue our cultural struggle. Among us, there are numerous cinematographers, some of whom are currently serving on the frontlines. Tragically, some are no longer with us. These actors, directors, and cinematographers could have brought us outstanding Ukrainian cinema,” said Andrii Khalpakhchi from the Krakiv Cultural Center.
PHOTOS FROM THE OPENING CEREMONY ARE HERE
Photos by: Anastasiia Mantach / Molodist KIFF, Anna Soli / Molodist KIFF, Oleksandr Avramenko / Dyplomatychnyi Visnyk. We kindly ask you to provide credits when publishing the photo.
Molodist KIFF will run until October 29. The award ceremony will take place on October 28 at the Krakiv Cultural Cluster. For the first time in the festival’s history, the audience will be able to attend the closing ceremony by purchasing a ticket.
The festival is held with the financial support of the Ukrainian State Film Agency, the Stabilisation Fund for Culture and Education of the German Foreign Office and the Goethe-Institut, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, the Italian Embassy in Ukraine, the Italian Cultural Institute in Ukraine, the Embassy of Spain in Ukraine, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ukraine, the Embassy of France in Ukraine, the French Institute, the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine, and the Polish Institute in Kyiv.
Creative partner — Hexagon Аgency
Partners: State lotteries operator M.S.L. and Lotto Zabava, Ilta, Zhovten Cinema, Krakiv Cinema, Kyiv Cultural Cluster, FROLOV, Kimberli, UP Hub production company, Amo Pictures, International Institute of Deep Psychology
Main media partner — 1+1 media
Media partners: Kyivstar TV, Svidomi, Suspilne, hromadske, Ukrainskyi Tyzhden, LiRoom, Mind.ua, detector media, Marie Claire, DTF Magazine, Moviegram, TyKyiv, Vethirnii Kyiv, Nove Ukrainske Kino, Zahin Kinomaniv
Hospitality partners: Il Molino, Ptashka na Podoli, Tisto Kyiv, Radisson Blu, Happy Leaf, Status, Styhla, The Highland Fox, Gigineishvili wine house, Dooobra Ferma.