The project was launched in April 2008 by the polish film festival in Kiev, Lviv, Kharkiv and Odessa, which has been started by the gala-premier of Andrzej Wajda’s film “Katyn” and awarding with the Yaroslav Mudriy Order film director Andrzej Wajda by the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko.

Such cross-festivals are planned to be held yearly. This year the festival of Ukrainian Cinema will take place in November in three cities of Poland – Warsaw, Krakow and Gdynia. The First Lady of Ukraine Kateryna Yushchenko will visit the opening ceremony. The program of Ukrainian films consists of the classic and modern Ukrainian films. The debut and mature works of the tree leading figures in Ukrainian cinematography Roman Balayan and Kira Muratova will be presented.  

The festival program includes the films of Roman Balayan “Paradise Birds”(2008) and “Biryuk” (1075). The action of “Paradise Birds” takes place in USSR, beginning of 80-th, the heroes act against the inhuman governmental apparatus.  By risking their life, people prove that the desire to freedom can not be stopped by anybody or anything. “Biryuk” – is one of the first works of Roman Balayan in Cinematography. This is a story of a forester, serf Phoma, killed by his barin (lord), shooted on the base of Ivan Turgenev’s story.

 “Two in One”(2007) and “Short Meetings” (1967) by Kira Muratova will be presented. “Two in One”- is awarded by NIKA, as the best film of CIS and Baltic Countries. “The Short Meetings” – is the second film of Kira Muratova.

Additionally to this the polish viewer will have opportunity to see the modern Ukrainian Films as “Vladyka Andriy” by Oles Yanchuk, “Illusion of Fair” by Oleksandr Kirienko, “Safo” by Robert Kromby, that had box-office over 1mln.USD.

The films will be presented by film directors and actors. The aim of the festival is to develop distribution of Ukrainian Films in Poland and Polish films in Ukraine. As well as inviting filmmakers of our countries for co-production.