SCRIPTWRITER
A group of prominent Russian screenwriters demanded peace. They include Anastasia Palchikova (“Bolshoy”), Roman Kantor (“To the Lake,” Netflix’s upcoming Anna Karenina adaptation “Anna K”), Anna Kozlova (“Flashmob”), co-writer and co-director of “Captain Volkonogov Escaped”. Aleksey Chupov and Nataliya Meshchaninova (“Arrhythmia”) among hundreds of others.
“The Russian government has banned the word ‘war’. The word ‘peace’ is still allowed,” the writers said in a statement. “The peace of Ukraine has been violently destroyed. The peace of the sovereign independent state is threatened. The peace of the Russian people has also disappeared. The government pushes us into the world of terror, isolation, economic, cultural and human disaster. We, the scriptwriters of Russia, demand to stop this military operation and to find the words for dialogue and negotiation.
Many Russians are desperately writing open letters asking the Russian government to stop: comedians, directors, teachers, doctors, architects, beauty industry workers, designers, etc., the statement added. “Many of those who signed the open letters have been fired; many have received threats of violence; thousands were arrested.
“We send our immense love to the Ukrainian people. We demand peace!
NETWORK
The board of directors of the European Audiovisual Women’s Network also joined in the condemnation of the war by the global media industry.
Ada Solomon, Executive Chairman, wrote on behalf of the Board: “We, EWA Network, strongly condemn the criminal actions of the Putin regime. We defend all filmmakers who oppose the criminal regime in Russia, regardless of their nationality, because we are one nation: the nation of cinema, the nation of freedom of expression. There is a crucial moment in history when we must remain united in our fundamental creed in order to survive.
“Any filmmaker in need of anything is welcome to contact EWA Network contact@ewawomen.com and we will respond instantly. Any financial support you would like to offer, we encourage you to direct it to the following organization as advised by our friends at Molodist Film Festival in Kyiv: International charity foundation “Come Back Alive”.
“We will keep you posted on other direct ways to support the innocent victims of this horrible war. United we will survive.
LICENCE
Global rights management firm Eccho Rights has licensed ‘Servant of the People’, the 2016 series created by and starring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, to Channel 4 in the UK, MBC in the Middle East, ANT 1 in Greece and PRO TV in Romania, in solidarity with Ukraine and Zelensky.
Fredrik af Malmborg, Managing Director of Eccho Rights, said: “Eccho Rights stands in solidarity with our friends and partners in Ukraine. Our position is that the best support the global television industry can offer Ukraine today is to share this story. »
Three seasons of the series and feature film are available under license from Eccho Rights.
Nicola Söderlund, managing partner at Eccho, said: “The series is a comedy but also an important document on the origin of Zelensky. Its fictional president is a normal man, who grows into his role as a heroic and adored leader. the real-world scenario faced by Zelensky and the Ukrainian people is far darker and more gruesome than the show’s comedy, there are clear parallels to the real-world situation, and “Servant of the People” is a compelling play, important and historic television.”
Eccho Rights also pledged a donation of €50,000 ($55,460) to the Ukrainian Red Cross, to help aid war victims and removed all Russian-owned and produced series from their catalog.
“Servant of the People”
Eccho Rights
ESTONIAN BOYCOTT
The Estonian film industry has called for a boycott of films from warring Russia and Belarus and has asked all Estonian filmmakers to sign the Ukrainian Film Academy petition declare a boycott of Russian cinema.
“The entire Estonian film industry calls on its government to implement extraordinary temporary measures to ban the production and distribution of state-sponsored audiovisual films from Russia and Belarus in Estonia, and to suspend film cooperation and culture with their autocratic regimes until the war in Estonia. Ukraine comes to a standstill and the resulting situation satisfies the international community,” Estonian industry representatives said in a statement on Wednesday.
“As filmmakers, we are fully aware that the situation of our fellow filmmakers in these countries will be significantly more difficult under the international boycott. That’s why we appeal to you, Russian and Belarusian friends and filmmakers. Gather all your strength and creativity and act decisively against the inhuman actions of your rulers! We encourage you to collectively take responsibility for the fate of your countries and nations,” the statement added. “We support all filmmakers from Russia and Belarus who oppose the Putin and Lukashenko regimes.”
The statement also welcomes the appeal of Belarusian filmmakers who have strongly condemned Russian military aggression against Ukraine and indicates that the Estonian film industry is doing its best to help Ukrainian refugees find professional work and housing.
Signatories to the statement include the Estonian Filmmakers Association, Estonian Film Institute, Estonian Screenwriters Guild, Estonian Film Directors Guild, Estonian Documentary Guild, Estonian Society of Filmmakers, Estonian Film Industry, National Union of Estonian Film Producers, Estonian Film Producers Association. , Baltic Film, Media and Arts School/Tallinn University, Animation Department/Estonian Academy of Arts, Estonian Animation Association, Estonian Film Journalists Association, Estonian Audiovisual Authors Association, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Cinema Artis /Tallinnfilm OÜ, Cinema Tartu Elektriteater, Cinema Sõprus, Cinema Võrgukuur, Estonian Film Museum/Estonian History Museum, Association of Professional Actors of Estonia and National Archives of Estonia Film Archive.
