KYIV. UkraineGate . 9. September . 2022 | Ukraine News.
During the war, the film industry was going through difficult times. Currently, no tape is being shot, and the workers are left without income. However, the state has recently resumed financial support for the Ukrainian film industry. The head of the National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine, Serhiy Trimbach .
Quote
“To our great surprise, state support was restored to cinematography during the war. Of course, it is not about any colossal amounts, but it is enough to produce a certain number of films. During the war, cinematography can perform many functions, including therapeutic ones. It is a well-known case that during the financial crisis in the early 1930s in the USA, it was the cinema that saved many people psychologically. But it is not only about state support. Now, many international funds are ready to financially support Ukrainian film studios, so it is important to establish contacts with them,” said Trimbach.
Details
He added that not a single film is currently being shot in Ukraine. But about 30 feature-length feature films have already been shot and are either in a state of complete readiness or in the final stages of production and still need a little financing.
“I hope that Derzhkino will do everything to ensure that these films are completed. Now I observe that the demand for Ukrainian cinema is greater than ever. After all, earlier the public was indifferent to Ukrainian cinema, American and Russian cinema were popular. Now the situation has changed,” the interlocutor noted.
As for the workers of the film industry, due to the termination of the industry during the war, all cinematographers were left without income. Some started looking for other work. Also, according to the expert, foreign foundations and organizations help.
There is also the problem of reorganization of the “Dovzhenko Center”. As Trimbach noted, the Union of Cinematographers, together with other public and state organizations, is fighting for its preservation.
“Why did so many institutions and the community support this institution? Because there are not so many such effective institutions. It also performs the functions of an archive, and worked effectively in the direction of spreading and popularizing Ukrainian screen culture. Here it is important to solve the legal problem and secure the status of the film archive for the Center, and not to issue a dubious order that will divide the property into three parts. We, as a community, will do everything to prevent this from happening. Because if the public cannot defend itself, the state turns into a totalitarian monster, which Russia has become. If we surrender some height, an object, it means another step towards the usurpation of power,” said Trimbach.
The Minister of Culture Oleksandr Tkachenko reacted to the possibility of the liquidation of the “Dovzhenko Center” and immediately noted that it has no influence on the State Cinema, but the film fund “should not be under any circumstances.”
Source: Ukrgate