State Film Agency gets new head from Odesa

The State Film Agency of Ukraine has a new head, a well-known film producer, writer and head of the Odesa Film Studio, Andriy Osipov.

His appointment was officially announced on May 30 by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications.

The Ministry noted that Osipov has many years of experience in the field of cinema: he is a member of the National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine, worked as an expert of the presidential commission for the distribution of grants for young filmmakers, is a co-founder of the Cinema for Victory festival and chairman of the Council for State Support of Cinematography. Osipov founded the Legends of Odesa Film Studio award to honor experienced industry workers.

The new head of the State Film Agency has participated in the jury of a number of Ukrainian festivals and literary competitions. His appointment follows a series of changes in the agency's leadership, which began with the dismissal of Maryna Kuderchuk in 2024.

Odesa Film Studio is one of the oldest film studio complexes not only in Ukraine but also in Eastern Europe. It was founded in 1919 on the basis of several private studios that had been operating in Odesa before the revolution, and quickly became a center of development for Ukrainian and Soviet cinema. During the twentieth century, hundreds of films, both fiction and documentaries, were shot here. Prominent directors, cameramen, and actors worked at the Odesa Film Studio. The studio became widely known for its comedies, adventure films, and historical dramas. In the Soviet period, it was considered one of the leading studios in the USSR and was part of the Soyuzkino structure.

After Ukraine gained independence, the studio lost some of its funding but continued to operate. In 2017, it was headed by Andriy Osipov, who began reforming the institution: restoring pavilions, initiating the creation of museums, and developing the areas of cultural heritage and film pedagogy. The studio became a platform for educational events, festivals and new film projects. Today, the Odesa Film Studio is not only a symbol of cinematic history, but also an example of the modern transformation of a cultural enterprise in the context of a new Ukrainian identity.

Ірина Глухова