Cannes Market Dailies

While the war rages on, Ukraine's top media companies unite their efforts to help the country, save the Industry, and represent Ukraine worldwide. 

Prompted by FILM.UA Group’s initiative, other Ukrainian media industry players: Starlight Media, 1+1 Media, and Ukraine TV Channel have joined to represent Ukraine on this year's MIPTV, together. A brunt of the work coordinating the joint presentation was taken by Media Resources Management, most notably in the creation of:

• The stand #StandWithUkraine – an instant hit with all the attendees;

• The MIPTV Ukrainian Catalog, with all the hottest projects, both ready and in various stages of production;

• Two promo videos were produced specially for the event, a shorter Ukraine. The Heart of Europe, and a longer one showing Ukrainian beauty, spirit, and wealth of creative talent. Feel free to share them around!

And this wartime cooperation already bears fruit. Ukraine was at the center of attention at this year’s MIPTV. The opening ceremony had a representative of Ukraine – Viktoria Yarmoshchuk, CEO of FILM.UA Group, alongside MIPTV Markets’ Director Lucy Smith, mayor of Cannes David Lisner, and other distinguished guests. The opening Ukrainian panel featuring the reps of top TV content producers was packed to the brim and received multiple rounds of applause. The most important points raised were: 

• Ukraine has lived through many severe crises – we know how to be productive in unfavorable conditions and how to produce brilliant content on a budget;

• Industry worldwide can help to everyone's mutual benefit – by investing in co-production and procuring top-notch Ukrainian content;

• The film and media community can also send their message to the Russian elite by banning Russian films from major festivals, at least while the war crimes continue.

On MIPxCANNESERIES Connection – an exclusive side event to the market, Kateryna Vyshnevska, Head of Development and Co-Productions of FILM.UA Group, had the privilege to make a personal address to a select professional audience there. She stressed that:

• Humanitarian aid and helping displaced people is invaluable and urgently needed now, but not sustainable long-term;

• Helping to reopen Ukrainian businesses is sustainable and will provide multiplicative effects down the line;

• There are working models for it, besides direct investment and co-production, in content making at least – fixed-rate pre-buy Ukrainian Acquisition Fund.

Of course, this kind of interest had echoed in publicity throughout professional media:

• Variety had put out an article broadcasting crucial messages of the main Ukrainian panel;

• TVBIZZ had prepared a big illustrated publication about Ukrainian media professionals at war; 

• And С21 published two articles: about the Ukrainian Acquisition Fund initiative and an interview with Viktoria Yarmoshchuk about crisis management and avenues to building the Ukrainian AV content industry for future success.

And finally, FILM.UA Distribution was hard at work selling top-notch Ukrainian content. Some of these deals we can already reveal: 

• Animagrad’s animated series Eskimo Girl is arriving in Czechia and Slovakia on VOYO service;

• Medical drama series Dr. Hope, packaged with several feature films, goes on Discovery VOD and PAY TV in Poland;

• And the animated film The Dragon Spell is now going to Spain. 

We know that together we can overcome any obstacles. This year’s MIPTV has shown that we have many friends standing by our side! We thank all of you!