Ukrainian Film Director Received Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival

KYIV, Ukraine, May 24, 2011 -

The Ukrainian film director Maryna Vroda received a Palme d'Or (Golden
Palm) for the best short film at the 64th Cannes Film Festival. The 15 minute
motion picture Kross (cross-country race - Ed.) is a joint project by Ukraine
and France.

The short film Kross is based on the author's memories of the
physical education lessons. The production of the movie that was shot within
one week last September cost about EUR 3,500 and involved only
non-professional actors. The Ukrainian film was chosen by the jury out of
1500 applications.

Maryna Vroda is a 29 year-old graduate of the Kaprenko-Karyi
National University - major art education university in Ukraine. Last year,
Maryna was an assistant director to Serhiy Loznitsya - Ukrainian film
director, whose film Shastya Moye (My Joy) was featured in the main
competition program of the Cannes Film Festival in 2010.

This is the second time when Ukrainian motion picture received the
highest award at the Cannes Film Festival. Previously the Palme d'Or award
was presented in 2005 during the 58th Cannes Film Festival to the Ukrainian
director Igor Strembitsky for his short film Podorozhni (Wayfarers).

Cinematography in Ukraine dates back to 1896 when A. Fedetsky,
the artist and photographer from Kharkiv (Eastern Ukraine -Ed.) produced and
showed the first newsreels. Their regular production started in 1907. The
first animated cartoon studio was set up in 1927. During the World War II the
Ukrainian film makers went to the front to show the heroism of soldiers who
defended their motherland.

The Ukrainian script and play-writer Oleksandr Dovzhenko is one of the
founders of Ukrainian cinematography. The director of many motion pictures
including the top two in the country "Arsenal" and "Earth", Dovzhenko became
an important figure in the national and world cinematography.

After Ukraine became independent 20 years ago the government was unable
to provide adequate support to the weakening industry. The situation,
nonetheless, has changed within the last five years since Ukrainian business
media started making alliances with the world renowned film makers, who now
give preference to Ukraine for a multitude of reasons, including its
excellent shooting location with rich topographic variety, large number of
professional production and post-production support companies, affordable
infrastructure and open-hearted people.

For more information, please contact Maryna Khorunzha +380443324784 news at wnu-ukraine.com, Project Manager at Worldwide News Ukraine.