This monthÌýtheÌý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Ukrainian Studies programmeÌýscreened the silent Soviet spy thriller The Diplomatic PouchÌýand theÌýcomedy Love’s Berry, both by acclaimed filmmaker Oleksandr Dovzhenko (1894 – 1956).ÌýThe sold-outÌýscreeningÌýat the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ ArtsÌýPicturehouse, held as part ofÌýthe ,ÌýwasÌýaccompanied by a special live piano performance by Geoff Page.
On Saturday, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Ukrainian StudiesÌýpremieredÌýJerks:ÌýArabesques, aÌýcollection of short films by a dozen up-and-comingÌýfilmmakers, includingÌýVolodymyr Tykhyi, Vira IakovenkoÌýand Ivan Timshyn.Ìý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ partnered with theÌýDovzhenkoÌýFilm Studio and the Ukrainian Film Club of Columbia University in organising the event.Ìý
‘In many ways, contemporary Ukrainian filmmakers are ambassadors of Ukraine to the world and deserve our attention and support.ÌýDespite many financial and institutional challenges,Ìýyoung and talented Ukrainian artists continue to produce excellent work', explainedÌýDr RoryÌýFinnin, Director of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Ukrainian StudiesÌýprogramme.Ìý
‘In many ways, contemporary Ukrainian filmmakers are ambassadors of Ukraine to the world and deserve our attention and support.'
Dr Rory Finnin
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The Annual °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Festival of Ukrainian Film is a central pillar in a cluster of public events held by the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Ukrainian Studies programme.Ìý‘FilmÌýhas a specialÌýability to reach people from various social and cultural backgrounds', said Dr Finnin. 'We'veÌýorganisedÌýour AnnualÌýFestival as a way to branch outÌýandÌýintroduce the Ukrainian Studies programme to the wider British community’.
News of the festival wasÌýcarried widely in the Ukrainian media, from Radio ERA toÌýÌýandÌý.Ìý