UAH 20 million for a movie: Ukrainian State Film Agency signs state support agreement for the first time in two years
30 October 2024 16:56
For the first time in two years, the Ukrainian State Film Agency has signed an agreement on state support for Ukrainian films. Information about this appeared in the Prozorro system, according to "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to Nashi Hroshi.
The Ukrainian State Film Agency will spend UAH 20 million to make one film. The agreement was signed on September 18, 2024, which was the first such case since the fall of 2022.
What will be filmed
The film in question is Gemini, which will be produced by Deinde LLC.
Gemini, an adaptation of the story of the same name by Japanese writer Edogawa Rampo, belongs to the thriller and drama genres. The screenplay and direction will be carried out by Ukrainian film director Eva Neiman, who currently lives in Berlin. The film will be produced by Alla Belya (Ukraine), Wanda Adamik Hrycova (Slovakia), Kestutis Drazdauskas (Lithuania) and Krzysztof Solek (Poland).
The plot of the film reveals the dramatic story of a younger twin who, born only a few minutes after his older brother, is forced to imitate his appearance and even desires, which turns his life into a real tragedy and leads him from love to death.
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The film won the 14th competitive selection of the Ukrainian State Film Agency back in 2020, taking fifth place in the category of Feature Films of Joint Production. Its production will be carried out according to a financing plan that provides for 70% advance payment in the period from January to October 2025, another 20% will be paid by March 2026, and the final 10% – in 2026.
It is worth noting that the State Film Agency usually allocates funds for a film only if it is created in co-production – at least 50% of the funding must be provided by other sources.
Eva Neiman
Eva Neumann is a Ukrainian-German film director and screenwriter born on June 21, 1974 in Zaporizhzhia. Her career in cinema began after she emigrated to Germany in 1993, where she studied at the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin. During her studies, Neumann worked as a director’s trainee under the prominent Ukrainian filmmaker Kira Muratova, which had a significant influence on her artistic style.
Neiman’s first major work was the film By the River (2007), shot at the Odesa Film Studio. The film won a silver award at the Lagow Film Festival in Poland and was screened at the Rotterdam Film Festival.
Other significant works by Neiman include The House with a Turret (2012) and The Song of Songs (2015). “The House with a Turret won the main award at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival and the Grand Prix at the Dark Nights Festival in Tallinn, and Song of Songs was awarded prizes at the Odesa International Film Festival.
All of Eva Neiman’s previous films are in Russian.
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