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Kyiv-Based Molodist International Film Festival Calls on Festivals to Boycott Russian Cinema
13.03.2022 - 04:27 / variety.com
J. Kim Murphy The Kyiv-based Molodist International Film Festival has penned an open letter to the film community calling on other festivals to join in a boycott of Russian films as a response to the invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces.The festival’s statement cites an ongoing effort by modern Russia to “separate culture from politics” and to “[use] that same culture to distract the West from Russia’s wars, human rights violations, censorship and persecution of political dissidents.”“There are Russian filmmakers and intellectuals who have been truly vocal in their dissent and criticism of Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine throughout these years, and we know some of them personally,” the statement reads.
“We’re confident, however, that they will understand why we call for the full boycott of Russian films until Russia’s army is out of Ukraine and its government compensates for all the damage – because these intellectuals certainly understand that they have failed in their struggle.” The Molodist International Film Festival was forced to postpone its 51st edition on Friday due to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The event was set to unfold between May 28 and June 5.“When you intend to give voice to Russians now, we want you to think about facing representatives of the Ukrainian film industry, festival programmers and filmmakers, and how you will look into our eyes knowing that some of our friends, family members or even some of us may not have survived this war,” the letter concludes.
Oscars 2022: Sean Penn calls for boycott and promises to ‘smelt’ his awards if Zelensky not allowed to speak
Sean Penn has vowed to “smelt” his Oscar if it turns out the Academy chose not to include Volodymyr Zelensky in the 2022 Oscars. Last week, Oscars host Amy Schumer claimed that her request to have the Ukrainian president address the star-studded gathering was rejected.
International Emmy Awards To Ban All Russian Programs From 2022 Competition
The Executive Committee of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has announced it will bar all Russian programs from this year’s International Emmys competition in support of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Producer Denis Ivanov Gives Interview From Kyiv, Slams Film Festival Response To Invasion: “Screening Russian Films Now Is Supporting Putin”
EXCLUSIVE: Influential Ukrainian film producer Denis Ivanov, whose credits include Sergey Loznitsa’s Donbass and Oleg Sentsov’s Rhino, says the lack of support from major film festivals for a boycott of Russian culture is tantamount to complicity in Vladimir Putin’s war.
Vilnius Film Festival Chief Calls On International Fests To Boycott Russia: “It Is Our Duty To Do Everything We Can”
The head of an international film festival in Lithuania has expressed support for the proposed boycott of Russian cinema, despite the majority of major fests declining to join the movement.
Berlin Film Festival Will Not Boycott Russian Films, But Will Exclude Official Delegations
The Berlin International Film Festival has joined fellow events including Cannes and Venice in saying it will not ban Russian movies at the next edition of its fest, but will block official Russian delegates.
Berlin Film Festival Condemns Russia’s ‘War of Aggression,’ Refuses to Boycott Filmmakers Based on Origin
Naman Ramachandran The Berlin Film Festival has issued a strongly worded statement that condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but has taken a stance against boycotting filmmakers based on their origin.“The Berlinale staunchly condemns Russia’s war of aggression, which violates international law, and expresses its solidarity with the people in Ukraine and all those who are campaigning against this war,” the festival said in a statement on Wednesday.“The Russian invasion and attacks on civilian targets such as hospitals, schools and homes have caused a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe in Ukraine. Our thoughts and sympathy are with the victims, the suffering population, and the millions who have fled Ukraine.” “The Berlinale has developed into a setting for intercultural encounters and a platform for critical discussion of current or historical world events.
Ukraine War Doc ‘Trenches,’ Cuban Migrant Title ‘Option Zero’ Win at Spain’s MiradasDoc Film Festival
Anna Marie de la Fuente Documentaries about the conflict in Ukraine, the Cuban migrant situation and the Palestinian refugee crisis were among top winners at MiradasDoc, Spain’s foremost documentary film festival which wrapped its 15th edition on March 12. Based in Tenerife, Canary Islands, the festival was an in-person event running March 4-12, while its market (March 8-11) remained virtual for the second consecutive year.The best international documentary prize went to “Option Zero” (“La Opcion Cero”) by Cuban filmmaker Marcel Beltran while the best debut feature award was extended to “Trenches” by French journalist Loup Bureau who has covered the Arab Spring in Egypt, the Syrian War and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in the Donbas region. “Trenches” follows the intrepid young men and women who are fighting Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine’s Donbas region.
Sarajevo Film Festival Shows Solidarity With Ukraine By Adding Country To Its Regional Programs
The Sarajevo Film Festival is the latest international film organization to show its support for Ukraine as the festival has announced it will include Ukrainian films and filmmakers in its regional programs. The beloved European festival originally started off as regional event for Balkan films and has since evolved to incorporate Southeast Europe and the Causcasus region.
Sun Valley Film Festival Announces Additional 2022 Honorees, Film Screenings
Wyatte Grantham-Philips editorThe Sun Valley Film Festival, which will be returning in-person for its 11th annual event from March 30 to April 3, has announced additional awards and films that will be screened this year.Variety will present this year’s Pioneer Award to Danny Strong on April 1. As a writer, director, actor and producer, Strong has earned two Emmys, a Golden Globe, two WGA awards, a PGA Award and a Peabody Award — with credits ranging from both parts of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay” to “Dopesick.” Previous Pioneer Award winners include Shaka King, Aaron Paul, Eliza Hittman and Mark Duplass.Also on April 1, the Rising Star Award will be given to Netflix’s “Outer Banks” cast members Chase Stokes, Madelyn Cline, Madison Bailey, Jonathan Daviss, Rudy Pankow, Austin North, Drew Starkey and Carlacia Grant.
Toronto Film Festival Suspends Participation From Russia-Sponsored Groups, But Welcomes Indie Filmmakers
The Toronto Film Festival said Thursday that it will suspend participation by film organizations and media outlets supported by the Russian state for its next festival, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Toronto Film Festival Bans Official Russian Delegations, Welcomes Indie Filmmakers
Ellise Shafer The Toronto Film Festival has banned all official Russian delegations from its 2022 edition following the country’s invasion of Ukraine, but will welcome work from independent Russian filmmakers into their programming.“As an arts organization dedicated to transforming the way people see the world through film, we support artists and their freedom of expression. TIFF will continue to include films from independent Russian filmmakers in our programming at the Toronto International Film Festival and year-round at TIFF Bell Lightbox,” festival organizers said in a statement to Variety on Thursday.
Cannes Film Fest Sidebars Directors’ Fortnight, Critics’ Week & ACID Will Not Boycott Russian Filmmakers
The three key side events of the Cannes Film Festival – Critics’ Week, ACID and the Directors’ Fortnight – will not be joining the boycott of Russian cinema.
Ukrainian Filmmaker Fighting on Front Lines Calls for Russian Cinema Boycott
Deadline). “Life has changed in an instant with the fall of the first bomb on the territory of Ukraine. Everything we knew about Hitler’s invasion has now become real again.”Sentsov’s latest film “Rhino” was just released in Ukraine two weeks ago, his first movie after he had been imprisoned for five years in Russia in 2014 for fighting against Vladimir Putin’s regime and the annexation of Crimea.
Influential Ukrainian Producer Denis Ivanov Pens Letter From Kyiv Backing Russian Cinema Boycott: “It’s Not The Right Time For Red Carpets For Our Dear Russian Colleagues”
Denis Ivanov, the Ukrainian producer whose credits include films with Oleg Sentsov and Sergei Loznitsa, has penned an open letter while fighting on the front line of the war backing the proposed boycott of Russian cinema. Read it in full below.
Venice Film Festival Won’t Ban Independent Russian Artists ‘Who Defend Freedom of Expression’
statement in solidarity with Ukraine and condemned Russia’s military aggression amid calls for boycotts, specifically for artists featured in an art pavilion and exhibition that begins in April (Russia withdrew from the art pavilion earlier this week). But they clarified that they will not “shut its doors to those who defend freedom of expression.” “La Biennale is also close to all those in Russia who are courageously protesting against the war.
Ukraine war: Cannes Film Festival bars Russian delegations, people with ties to the Kremlin
The Cannes Film Festival has taken a position on the war in Ukraine, and will bar Russian delegations at its 75th edition this May. "As the world has been hit by a heavy crisis in which a part of Europe finds itself in a state of war, the Festival de Cannes wishes to extend all its support to the people of Ukraine and all those who are in its territory," reads a statement released on Tuesday.
Cannes Film Festival Says It Will Not Welcome “Official Russian Delegations”; No Comment On Russian Films Being Selected
Cannes Film Festival has released a statement in response to the war in Ukraine saying it will not accept “Russian delegations” this year. Scroll down to read it in full.