Cartoon Movie 2023 focused on Ukrainian animation with its headliner MAVKA. THE FOREST SONG, produced by Animagrad (FILM.UA Group), which started its international path at this very spot back in 2017. This year, MAVKA was back in Bordeaux with a completed film just days before its wide theatrical release across France and after opening weekend in Ukraine, where it set record-breaking domestic box office results.
Six years ago, in 2017, MAVKA became the first Ukrainian project to be selected to be pitched at Cartoon Movie. It was a significant achievement for the whole Ukrainian animation industry. In 2018, MAVKA had a chance to be presented at Cartoon Movie again, but at the development stage.
'Cartoon Movie is a significant event as it gives a platform where participants are able to find strategic partners and showcase the level of animation of their studio and its creativity. Mavka and we as producers met true friends and partners at a forum, with whom we continue to work, remaining reliable and trusted players of the European market despite our conditions’, producer Iryna Kostyuk said.
Cartoon Movie's hosts were excited to be the first who reveal MAVKA to the world so they branded the “Croissant Show” (one of the main events of the forum where all Cartoon Movie participants gather to see the trailers of the pitched projects) with MAVKA’s scenes and its original score.
During the Cartoon Movie, a public screening of the French version of the movie took place. And on March 29, Universal Pictures Content Group and KMBO distribution company will release MAVKA. THE FOREST SONG across France. It is also worth mentioning that KMBO was named Distributor of the Year at Cartoon Movie 2023.
The producers of MAVKA brought to the forum a new project in development — ROXELANA, the second Ukrainian project, was selected for pitching at Cartoon Movie. This is Animagrad’s third animated feature, which is based on the strong female character with cultural or historical background.
As a result of the pitching, ROXELANA sparked a huge interest among forum participants, becoming one of 15 projects which received the most attention from buyers. In total, there were 58 projects selected for the presentation.
‘It is difficult to build long-term plans, ROXELANA is now at the very beginning — at the stage of searching for partners, plus, we can’t shift our focus away from MAVKA easily. But what is essential is that we work consistently and for a long time to ensure Ukrainian projects gain acclaim and recognition worldwide. We keep working on it further, and nobody can push us back. There should be more projects like ours’, producer Anna Eliseeva stated.
This year forum participants were able to observe the Ukrainian animation as it was in the spotlight. Within the Spotlight on Ukraine section, there was a stand of Ukrainian animation, offering an e-catalog of animation projects for the past three years and thematic videos to present the animation industry. The stand was dedicated to popularizing modern Ukrainian animation, promoting its distribution and international co-production.
The delegation representing the Ukrainian animation industry at the аorum had about 20 people, including industry professionals and young talents.
Explore more information on MAVKA. THE FOREST SONG’s activities on the official Instagram and Facebook, TikTok, as well as on the website.
