FOCUS spotlight interview with Victoria Yarmoshchuk of Ukrainian Motion Picture Association

Spotlight on FOCUS exhibitor Victoria Yarmoshchuk, Coordinator of the Cinema Division of the Humanitarian Policy Development Office of Ukraine and Executive Director of Ukrainian Motion Picture Association.

You are returning to exhibit at FOCUS 2019. What brings you back to FOCUS again this year?

FOCUS is one of the largest and most significant exhibitions of locations in the world. And for sure it is the most authoritative and significant in the European region. We are glad that last year, thanks to the support of the Ukrainian State Film Agency we were able to take part in the exhibition for the first time, and that now we have the opportunity to come back again. Because it is extremely important not only to attend these events but to do it on an ongoing basis. If we want to position ourselves as a country that has something to offer to the world in terms of filming locations, then we just have to be here. So our return to FOCUS is a logical step. Especially in the light of legislative changes in the field of film and television production that are currently taking place in Ukraine. Last year we noted a high level of interest to our country. But, unfortunately, this interest did not transform into a large flow of film crews: first of all, due to the fact that there was no cash rebate system in Ukraine. But now the situation is changing: starting next year the incentive will be in place. And this time before the start of FOCUS, we already have a list of preliminary meetings, in particular, with representatives of such media giants as HBO and Netflix. We are very pleased with this level of interest and look forward to these meetings.

FOCUS is one of the largest and most significant exhibitions of locations in the world. And for sure it is the most authoritative and significant in the European region.

What will you be promoting at the event?

First of all, locations. Our booth will be decorated with a photo collage of various Ukrainian locations. Being based on the experiences of the last year, we know that it works: people pass by the booth, see these impressive photos and become interested. They stop, ask questions and learn that Ukraine is a country where you can find everything: from mountains to deserts, from forests to seas, from medieval architecture to post-Soviet buildings or modern urban landscapes. And then they begin to ask about the possibilities for cooperation. So we primarily focus on a variety of locations as well as on the accessibility and favorable conditions for cooperation with our country. In addition to the showcase, we will also hold a presentation to tell more about Ukraine, our film market, locations and opportunities for cooperation.