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May 20, 2026, 8:32 p.m.
A film project about a scientist from Odesa presented in Cannes
This article also available in English0
PHOTO: National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine
The story of Odesa scientist Waldemar Havkin, who saved millions of people from cholera and plague, will become the basis for the international film Foreign Bodies. A Ukrainian producer and a British-Indian director will work on the film.
This was reported by the press service of the National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine.
Ukrainian producer Yegor Olesov has joined the creation of the international film Foreign Bodies, which will tell the story of the life and dramatic fate of Odesa resident Waldemar Havkin, one of the pioneers of world vaccinology. The film is directed by BAFTA winner Shekar Kapoor, known for the movie Elizabeth.
The project has already been presented at the Cannes Film Festival. The plot centers on the story of a scientist who created vaccines against cholera and plague in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that helped save millions of people. Despite his scientific breakthrough, Havkin later found himself at the center of a high-profile scandal and was unjustly accused in what was called the "second Dreyfus case."
The film will take place in Odesa, Paris, London, Mumbai and Kolkata. The director Shekar Kapoor calls the film a large-scale story about a man who was both praised and hated. According to him, the film combines drama, love story and the theme of cultural conflicts.
The script for the film was written by British author Paul Twomey, who spent several years researching Khavkin's archives and biography. The international production team also includes JD Zacharias, Helen Hadfield and Alexandra Stone.
Yegor Olesov emphasized that it is important for the Ukrainian side to return the name of Waldemar Hawkin to the global historical context - not only as an outstanding scientist, but also as a person whose history began in Ukraine. Casting for the main roles in the upcoming film is currently underway.
And in April, the Odesa International Film Festival opened a call for applications for participation in Film Industry Office pitchings. The creators of feature films, documentaries and animated films that are at the Development and Work in Progress stages are invited to participate in the presentations.
