The 12th Odesa International Film Festival presents an independent selection committee, which will be responsible for the competition programme of the festival.

The selection committee includes producer and former head of the Ukrainian State Film Agency Philip Illienko, journalist and film critic Kateryna Slipchenko, Arthouse Traffic programme director Ilya Dyadyk and curator of the Odesa Green Theater film section Olga Sydorushkina. OIFF programme consultant Alik Shpilyuk will head the committee.

“Since its first year at the OIFF in 2012 the National Competition programme has been constantly growing and expanding. We had the opportunity to see with our own eyes the rapid development of Ukrainian cinema. Therefore, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, the 12th OIFF will focus on the National Programme, the selection of films will be carried out by the approved selection committee. The selection committee was created for independent expert evaluation of the competition programme. Thus, the National Programme will be formed by film industry specialists who will be able to provide objective recommendations for each of the possible contestants”, Head of the selection committee Alik Shpilyuk said.

The independent selection committee will be responsible for the National Competition programme (both full length and short films) and the Film Industry Office competition programmes. In addition, films submitted to the National Competition may enter the non-competition sections such as "Gala Premieres" or "Festival of Festivals" upon agreement. Call for submissions for the 12th OIFF National Competition programme will open soon.

The 12th Odesa International Film Festival will take place on 14-21 August 2021.