May 5, 2026, 9:31 a.m.
(PHOTOS: OIFF)
The Odesa International Film Festival has decided to hold a 24-hour film laboratory for young filmmakers on August 28-29 in Kyiv.
According to the OIFF press service, the idea is to allow aspiring directors and actors to practice and improve their skills in a creative and collaborative atmosphere.
The film lab will be held as part of the Film Industry Office section of the 17th OIFF, which this year will take place from August 27 to September 4 in Kyiv with the support of the Ukrainian State Film Agency.
The conditions of the 24-hour challenge are no professional equipment, props or big budgets. A smartphone, a small team, and 24 hours to create a short film (up to two minutes) on a given topic from scratch - from script to final cut.
"From idea to finished movie in 24 hours. No budgets, no producers, no endless approvals, you just have a smartphone and your team. It's a great opportunity to prove to yourself that good filmmaking requires not money, but ideas and the courage to realize them. And for the participants, it promises to be one of the most fun days of the summer!<i> "</i> said Kristina Tinkevich, Head of the Film Industry Office section at the 17th OIFF.
The laboratory will be curated by Piotr Bartuszek, <b> a</b> Polish casting director. His professional portfolio includes more than 90 films, including High Life by Claire Denis, Maria Curie by Marie Noel, Leave no Traces by Jan P. Matuszynski, as well as Agent Hamilton, Families Like Ours, Marie Antoinette. Piotr is a board member of the International Casting Directors Association (ICDA), co-founder of the Polish Casting Directors Guild and a member of the European Film Academy.
Under his mentorship, the filmmakers will work in small groups, putting their creativity to the test and seeing what they can do when time is the main challenge. This is a unique opportunity to meet international casting experts, work in a dynamic creative atmosphere and find new colleagues and friends in the film industry. The language of the workshop is English.
The lab is open to acting and directing students aged 18-25, as well as young professionals who are making their first steps in film. Each participant will receive an OIFF industry accreditation, as well as an invitation to the opening and closing ceremonies of the festival.
Кирило Бойко