The Odessa Film Festival Has Announced Its Program for Film Professionals

As part of the 17th Odessa International Film Festival, which will take place this year from August 27 to September 4 in Kyiv, the Film Industry Office’s professional program will be held. It will run from August 28 to September 3 and bring together Ukrainian and international film industry representatives.

This was announced by the OIFF press office.

The program includes panel discussions, case studies, international industry meetings, producer and screenwriting labs, pitching sessions for Ukrainian film projects, workshops, the OIFF 24-Hour Challenge, and a separate acting program called The Actor’s Lab.

The first day, August 28, will open with a discussion on the prospects for screening Ukrainian films. Representatives from the State Film Agency, TV channels, streaming platforms, and movie theaters will discuss how much new Ukrainian content the domestic market can absorb and what films need to successfully reach their audience.

Also on this day, discussions will focus on the role of film critics and journalists in generating interest in films, cultural resistance to totalitarianism, veterans and military personnel in film and television, and the future of collaboration between TV channels and streaming platforms. A separate discussion will be devoted to the ethics of portraying female service members in film.

On August 29, as part of the Film Industry Office, two case studies of Ukrainian TV series—*Hiding the Ex* and *Quiet Nava*—will be presented. There will also be discussions on how film shapes the memory of war, as well as on ethical boundaries and responsibility when working with war stories.

On August 30, the program will focus on international cooperation and the place of Ukrainian cinema in the global industry. Participants will discuss the creation of international co-productions during the war, the perception of Ukrainian cinema abroad, new models of partnership between business and the film industry, as well as documentary animation.

A separate track will be The Actor’s Lab. It will cover professional standards for working with intimate scenes, child casting, actors’ work on international projects, the use of artificial intelligence in the acting profession, and legal protection for actors.

On September 2, there will be a pitching session for Ukrainian film projects in the categories Development: Fiction, Development: Documentary, and Work in Progress. And on September 3,the Oscar cinema will host Ukrainian Cinema Day with the support of the Ukrainian State Film Agency.

Most of The Actor’s Lab’s panel discussions, case studies, and events will be open to the public. Some of the labs, workshops, and the 24-hour challenge will be held in a closed format—by prior selection or registration.

Андрій Колісніченко