The 39th International Film Festival “Molodist” Is Open

The 39th edition of “Molodist” Film Festival (October 24-November 1) opened with a screening of Ian Counen’s “Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky”. The opening ceremony was hosted by famous actress Olga Kurylenko and president of the festival Andriy Khalpakhchi. The inauguration of the festival in Kyiv cinema was hosted by world famous French actress Catherine Deneuve and Charlie Chaplin’s son, Eugene.

Traditionally, as the Honorary President of Molodist Festival, Victor Yushchenko has presented this year’s Scythian Deer Prize for significant contribution into the world cinema to the famous French actress Catherine Deneuve. Also the President conferred the order For Merit to festival’s art director Andriy Khalpakhchi.

This year the festival plans to screen 240 films from more than 25 countries. All the international films screened in the main competition sections are Ukrainain, European or world premieres. The non-competitive program includes segments “Israeli Cinema” and “Argentina Contemporary,” shorts from Germany and Sweden, movies about human rights and immigrant workers and retrospectives of Jacques Tati and Catherine Deneuve, and special screenings: “Guillaume Depardieu. In Memoriam” and Charlie Chaplin’s “Circus.”

The five-member International jury includes French director Tony Gatlif, Ukainian publisher and poet Ivan Malkovych, Serbian filmmaker and screenwriter Vladimir Perisic, Polish director and producer Waldemar Dziki and Russian artist Alexander Vinogradov.