Toronto Film Festival Unites With Ukraine - Unite With Ukraine

MEDIA RELEASE: September 6, 2022

Toronto, CANADA — TIFF is proud to showcase the depth and creativity of Ukrainian filmmakers, producers, and talent with four Official Selections titles, two Industry Conference events, a promotional stand in its Industry Centre, and a special free public screening. In addition, TIFF will host a large delegation of Ukrainian film professionals at this year’s Festival.

Ukrainian-Focused Films in Tiff Official Selection

All titles have been previously announced

Liturgy of Anti-Tank Obstacles (Літургія протитанкових перешкод)

Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk | Ukraine, USA

North American Premiere

Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Antonio Lukich | Ukraine

North American Premiere

Mariupolis 2

Mantas Kvedaravičius | Lithuania, France, Germany

North American Premiere

Valeria Is Getting Married

Michal Vinik | Israel

North American Premiere

Victim (OBEŤ)

Michal Blaško | Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Germany*

North American Premiere

*Ukrainian protagonist

Free Public Screening

The title noted below is not a TIFF 2022 Official Selection

Freedom on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom

Evgeny Afineevsky | Ukraine, United Kingdom

North American Premiere

September 13, 9:15am at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto – FREE

TIFF presents director Evgeny Afineevsky’s documentary about the war in Ukraine. Afineevsky traces the war from the conflict in the Donbas region beginning in 2014, to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine early this year. Tickets are available to the public for free starting at 10am on September 6 at tiff.net/tickets.

Industry Conference Events

Spotlight on Ukrainian Producers (September 12, 9am)

Meet the six prominent Ukrainian producers behind recent festival hits who are actively working on new projects against all odds: Darya Bassel (Butterfly Vision, 2022), Volodymyr Yatsenko (Luxembourg, Luxembourg, 2022), Ihor Savychenko (The Painted Bird, 2019), Valeria Sochyvets (Blindfold, 2020), Egor Olesov (Mr. Jones, 2019). Join the talk about their current and future projects, moderated by Dorota Lech, TIFF Lead Programmer for Central and Eastern Europe. The event is organized by TIFF Industry in partnership with the Ukrainian Film Institute.

The Impact of the War in Ukraine on the International Film Industry (September 13, 11:45am)

Cinema is boundless — it can expand your horizons and transcend borders. But how can conflict in the country of your creative partner change your plans? This panel discussion is geared toward resourceful producers who are looking for tools to navigate the elusive world of co-productions. In this roundtable session, producers and agencies with co-production treaties listen to your questions and discussion points in the context of the Russian war in Ukraine, and how you can cooperate with Ukrainian productions. The event is organized by the Ukrainian Film State Agency in partnership with TIFF Industry.

Special Free Screening

Freedom on Fire: Ukraine's Fight For Freedom

TIFF presents the North American premiere of director Evgeny Afineevsky’s documentary about the war in Ukraine, screening outside of Official Selection in this free event. Afineevsky (Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom) traces the war from the conflict in the Donbas region beginning in 2014, immediately after the Maidan Uprising, to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine early this year.

Broadening the focus from Kyiv, Afineevsky and his veteran Winter on Fire crew turn their lenses on multiple countries, following the stories of those Ukrainians trying to escape and those who have vowed to stay behind.

A sweeping look at a humanitarian crisis, the documentary amplifies the views of children, mothers, soldiers, doctors, artists, volunteers, clergymen, and journalists who are transformed while witnessing ceaseless destruction and bloodshed. Featuring narration from Helen Mirren, Freedom on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom is a testament to resilience and opposition to tyranny.

For more information: https://tiff.net/events/freedom-on-fire-ukraines-fight-for-freedom