Mykolaychuk OPEN 2024 – the first details of the film festival program

At this year’s Mykolaychuk OPEN festival, a new out-of-competition section will be presented for the first time – “Under the constellation of Gemini”. It is dedicated to unusual fantasy films, and its name is borrowed from a 1976 Ukrainian fantasy film about AI. The director of the film was Borys Ivchenko, and Ivan Mykolaichuk wrote the script.

A new section will be opened by the game ribbon “Divinity” (Divinity) directed by Eddie Alcazar, executive produced by legendary director Steven Soderbergh. It tells the story of the son of a scientist who created a serum that can stop aging. However, in his hands it turns into an ominous nightmare that threatens the future of humanity.

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2023.

In addition, a special screening of the film will be held on June 15, 2024, on the occasion of the birthday of the founder of the festival, Ukrainian actor, screenwriter and director Ivan Mykolaichuk “I’m coming to you…” (1971). The film directed by Mykola Mashchenko, which tells the story of Lesya Ukrainka, will be presented in a restored version.

Mykolaichuk in the movie “I’m coming to you…”

A frame from the film

Another special event will be the commemoration of the director’s 100th birthday Serhiy Paradzhanov and showing the film “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” (1965). A few years ago, this film topped the list of the most important Ukrainian films of all time.

Equally outstanding specialists worked on the creation of the world-recognized masterpiece: the cameraman Yuriy Illenko – director of Ukrainian poetic cinema, composer Myroslav Skoryk – laureate of the Shevchenko Prize and National Legend of Ukraine, screenwriter Ivan Chendey – co-founder of the People’s Movement and PEN-Ukraine, laureate of the Shevchenko Prize.

Mykolaichuk played the main role in Paradzhanov’s film. The beloved of the hero, Marichka, was embodied on the screen by an actress Larisa Kadochnikova. For this role, the actress began to be called the muse of Ukrainian poetic cinema, and in 2024 she will become the muse of the Mykolaychuk OPEN film festival.

A frame from the film “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors”

About Mykolaychuk OPEN festival

Mykolaychuk OPEN – the audience film festival, which was created after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The team announced the first festival at the end of May 2022, and held it from June 15 to 19. It was held offline and was free for viewers.

The first festival was held in 2022

Mykolaychuk OPEN – audience film festival / Facebook

The festival featured the latest Ukrainian films that were not released in the national box office, as well as a retrospective program. In particular, the Ukrainian premiere of the film took place at Mykolaychuk OPEN “House Slovo. An endless novel” directed by Taras Tomenko.

In 2023, the film festival received international status and for the first time held two competitions – National Short and International Feature. It was held from June 15 to 20, and the festival was opened by a drama “I, Nina” directed by Marisa Nikityuk.

Mykolaychuk OPEN – audience film festival / Facebook

In total, 53 films were shown during the second festival, among them 8 Ukrainian premieres, 23 full-length films and 30 short films.

The third Mykolaychuk OPEN festival will take place from June 15 to 23. Traditionally, it will be held at the cultural and artistic center named after Ivan Mykolaichuk in Chernivtsi.