Squint very hard and you might be able to divine an allegory about the Russian attack on Ukraine – but you can also enjoy it for the nice designs and throat singing
This Ukrainian animated feature offers a bricolage of tropes from a wide range of children’s stories; mostly these derive from other movies but there’s a strong, proper folk-story spine in there too. Forest sprite protagonist Mavka (voiced in the English version by Laurie Hymes) is a fetchingly designed ingenue with green hair, disproportionally large doe eyes and magical healing skills, who lives in a part of the forest where humans no longer go, thanks to an old treaty between them and the forest spirits. But wealthy villainess Kalina wants to acquire an elixir from a magic tree in the forest that keeps her from ageing, so she sends a guileless young musician hunk named Lucas in to...
This Ukrainian animated feature offers a bricolage of tropes from a wide range of children’s stories; mostly these derive from other movies but there’s a strong, proper folk-story spine in there too. Forest sprite protagonist Mavka (voiced in the English version by Laurie Hymes) is a fetchingly designed ingenue with green hair, disproportionally large doe eyes and magical healing skills, who lives in a part of the forest where humans no longer go, thanks to an old treaty between them and the forest spirits. But wealthy villainess Kalina wants to acquire an elixir from a magic tree in the forest that keeps her from ageing, so she sends a guileless young musician hunk named Lucas in to...
- 7/24/2023
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
Ukrainian phenomenon “Mavka” is expanding its universe.
Following the premiere of feature film “Mavka. The Forest Song,” it is now set to become a 3D animated series as well. It will be produced by Animagrad Studio – part of the Film.UA Group – with France’s TeamTO already on board as co-development partner.
The project, which will be teased at Annecy’s Partners Pitch, will serve as a prequel to the film, explains Film.UA’s Kseniya Baranova.
“It’s set immediately after the battle between humans and Lesh, the forest guardian, which happened while the rest of the forest dwellers were in their deep winter sleep,” she said.
In each of 12 episodes, Mavka and her friends will be facing new challenges, given tasks to help the forest recover after the battle and restore order and harmony.
“Together with Swampy the Kittyfrog, Hush the Noise Keeper and the Nymphs, Mavka will go through unexpected,...
Following the premiere of feature film “Mavka. The Forest Song,” it is now set to become a 3D animated series as well. It will be produced by Animagrad Studio – part of the Film.UA Group – with France’s TeamTO already on board as co-development partner.
The project, which will be teased at Annecy’s Partners Pitch, will serve as a prequel to the film, explains Film.UA’s Kseniya Baranova.
“It’s set immediately after the battle between humans and Lesh, the forest guardian, which happened while the rest of the forest dwellers were in their deep winter sleep,” she said.
In each of 12 episodes, Mavka and her friends will be facing new challenges, given tasks to help the forest recover after the battle and restore order and harmony.
“Together with Swampy the Kittyfrog, Hush the Noise Keeper and the Nymphs, Mavka will go through unexpected,...
- 6/12/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Universal Pictures Content Group has acquired all French distribution rights for the animated feature film “Mavka. The Forest Song” by Animagrad Studio, which is owned by Ukrainian production powerhouse Film.UA.
The film tells the story of a magical spirit who’s responsible for protecting the forest from the outside world but faces her greatest challenge when she falls in love with a human.
The producers of “Mavka. The Forest Song” noted that the film “showcases unique Ukrainian culture, values, traditions and has an environmental component [through a] partnership with WWF-Ukraine.”
They added: “Mavka is a unique female character from Ukrainian legends and myths, the soul of the forest, who becomes its guardian when her home is in danger. She strives for peace and harmony in her world — just as the people of Ukraine today strive for their own.”
Evgeniy Drachov, Film.UA Distribution CEO, said the company is looking forward to its partnership with Universal,...
The film tells the story of a magical spirit who’s responsible for protecting the forest from the outside world but faces her greatest challenge when she falls in love with a human.
The producers of “Mavka. The Forest Song” noted that the film “showcases unique Ukrainian culture, values, traditions and has an environmental component [through a] partnership with WWF-Ukraine.”
They added: “Mavka is a unique female character from Ukrainian legends and myths, the soul of the forest, who becomes its guardian when her home is in danger. She strives for peace and harmony in her world — just as the people of Ukraine today strive for their own.”
Evgeniy Drachov, Film.UA Distribution CEO, said the company is looking forward to its partnership with Universal,...
- 7/11/2022
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Butterfly Vision (completed)
Director: Maksym Nakonechnyi
Producers: Darya Bassel, Yelizaveta Smith
Production: Tabor Productions, 4 Film, Masterfilm, Sisyfos
Sales: Wild Bunch
Lilia, held as a prisoner of war for months, finally returns home. But she is struggling to resume her life as a soldier and wife, while discovering she is pregnant.
Chrysanthemum Day
Director: Simon Mozgovyi
Producers: Alex Chepiga, Artem Koliubaiev
Production: Mainstream Pictures
Young doctor encounters an old woman, known as a healer, who mysteriously survives a nuclear explosion. But she loses her memory and identity along the way.
Company of Steel (documentary)
Director: Yuliia Hontaruk
Producers: Yuliia Hontaruk, Ivanna Khitsinska, Alexandra Bratyshchenko, Uldis Cekulis, Igor Savychenko
Production: Babylon’13, Directory Films
Three veterans return home and try to understand how to live as civilians. The film is an attempt to feel and see the world through the eyes of people who went through war.
Demons
Director: Natalya Vorozhbyt
Producers: Dmytro Minzianov,...
Director: Maksym Nakonechnyi
Producers: Darya Bassel, Yelizaveta Smith
Production: Tabor Productions, 4 Film, Masterfilm, Sisyfos
Sales: Wild Bunch
Lilia, held as a prisoner of war for months, finally returns home. But she is struggling to resume her life as a soldier and wife, while discovering she is pregnant.
Chrysanthemum Day
Director: Simon Mozgovyi
Producers: Alex Chepiga, Artem Koliubaiev
Production: Mainstream Pictures
Young doctor encounters an old woman, known as a healer, who mysteriously survives a nuclear explosion. But she loses her memory and identity along the way.
Company of Steel (documentary)
Director: Yuliia Hontaruk
Producers: Yuliia Hontaruk, Ivanna Khitsinska, Alexandra Bratyshchenko, Uldis Cekulis, Igor Savychenko
Production: Babylon’13, Directory Films
Three veterans return home and try to understand how to live as civilians. The film is an attempt to feel and see the world through the eyes of people who went through war.
Demons
Director: Natalya Vorozhbyt
Producers: Dmytro Minzianov,...
- 5/20/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
The fourth edition of Animation Day, which is part of the Cannes Film Festival’s Market, will take place on May 22.
A one-day event aimed at the global animation filmmaking community, it is a joint initiative launched in 2019 by the Cannes Film Market and the Annecy Intl. Animation Film Festival, in partnership with Animation! Ventana Sur, the animation branch of Latin America’s leading film market.
This edition will kick off with the Annecy Goes to Cannes pitching sessions, featuring five works-in-progress projects at various stages of development. Attendees will also be able to attend a morning panel discussion entitled “What Is Adult Animation Film’s Strategy and Where Is It Headed?,” which will address the question of the animated film offer for adults, both in theaters and on smaller screens, as viewing habits evolve.
Panelists include Dutch-born French filmmaker Jan Kounen, who is also presenting his latest project “Epiphania” in the pitching sessions,...
A one-day event aimed at the global animation filmmaking community, it is a joint initiative launched in 2019 by the Cannes Film Market and the Annecy Intl. Animation Film Festival, in partnership with Animation! Ventana Sur, the animation branch of Latin America’s leading film market.
This edition will kick off with the Annecy Goes to Cannes pitching sessions, featuring five works-in-progress projects at various stages of development. Attendees will also be able to attend a morning panel discussion entitled “What Is Adult Animation Film’s Strategy and Where Is It Headed?,” which will address the question of the animated film offer for adults, both in theaters and on smaller screens, as viewing habits evolve.
Panelists include Dutch-born French filmmaker Jan Kounen, who is also presenting his latest project “Epiphania” in the pitching sessions,...
- 5/17/2022
- by Lise Pedersen
- Variety Film + TV
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