Yushchenko Entrusted Cabinet To Make Movies Ukrainian

The Government is due to perform a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of the Decree, in particular: 300% increase of the financing for the national filmmaking in the current year to push up the presence of the national films in the informational space; intensify the problems resolving related to dubbing, voiceover, subtitling and replication of film copies including the dubbing reimbursements and finishing the national “Dolby” dubbing facilities, full-cycle and DI film labs; VAT release for the national movies tickets as well as for the Ukrainian-dubbed foreign films; dubbing expenses reimbursements for highly artistic, experimental foreign films with the limited circulation (art-house cinema).

Mr. Yuschenko, the president of Ukraine, sent a letter to Mrs. Timoshenko, the Premier of Ukraine. According to the President’s press-service, the President noticed in his letter that the gov’t should implement the conclusive decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine concerning distribution of the foreign-made films and organization of due conditions for dubbing, voicing and subtitling of movies with the state language. In particular, he noticed that still there are some unsettled problems in the national filmmaking industry restricting both, the development of the sector and functioning of the Ukrainian language in the film distribution.

Amongst the cardinal problems the head of state named: the extremely low number of domestic films in the informational space caused by budgetary under-financing of the production and distribution of the national movies; lack of protectionism while their production and distribution; inaccessibility of national movies by Ukrainian viewers in the district centers and the countryside because of lack of cinemas and incompatibility of the existing equipment to the modern needs of film production and cinema showing.

The President’s decree No 868/2007 “On Domestic cinematography development assistance measures” was issued on Sept. 13, 2007 called to solve the above-mentioned problems and create the proper conditions for development of domestic filmmaking; restoration of its social and spiritual spheres and preservation of national identity, and to ensure the effectiveness of state protectionism policy in respect of domestic film industry.

Taking into account the above-stated the Government is due to perform a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of the Decree, in particular: 300% increase of the financing for the national filmmaking in the current year to push up the presence of the national films in the informational space; intensify the problems resolving related to dubbing, voiceover, subtitling and replication of film copies including the dubbing reimbursements and finishing the national “Dolby” dubbing facilities, full-cycle and DI film labs; VAT release for the national movies tickets as well as for the Ukrainian-dubbed foreign films; dubbing expenses reimbursements for highly artistic, experimental foreign films with the limited circulation (art-house cinema).

Note: on Dec. 24, 2007 the Constitutional Court of Ukraine issued the official interpretation for statement of Art. 14 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On cinematography”.

According to: RBK-Ukraine

Ukraine to Show Five Features At The Berlinale

Ukraine is intending to present 5 movies at the Berlinale IFF (Feb. 7 to Feb. 17) and thus get ready to taking part in Cannes Festival, Mr. Andrey Khalpakhchi, Director of Ukrainian Cinema Foundation (UCF), said at press-conference held in Kyiv on Tuesday.

According to him the fest will feature a full-length movie of “At the Riverside” by Yeva Neyman and short-length movies of “The Strayman” by Valeriy Yamburgsky; “The Taxi Driver” by Roman Bondarchuk; “The Oath” by Marina Vroda; “On the Edge” by Artem Sukharyev and Nikita Ratnikov.

“I think Ukraine’s got all chances to become a true film sensation very soon now”, the director of Ukrainian FilmFoundation said confidently.

Mr. Khalpakhchi noted that there will be a stand at the Berlin Festival where those who so desire may look through the Ukrainian movie table for 2006-2008 as well as they may learn of the history and current trends of Ukraine’s cinematography development.

On February 12 within the framework of the Berlin Film Festival there will be held a grand presentation ceremony of Ukrainian cinematography whereto over 250 representatives of the international movie industry are invited, and amongst them there are actors, directors and high officials of Berlin and Germany. Minister of culture and tourism of Ukraine and the Berlin film festival management officers are also expected to attend the presentation.

According to A. Khalpakhchi, that’s going to be the first project of the FilmFoundation within the number of events scheduled for this year aimed at popularization of the domestic cinematography in Ukraine and abroad. The Festival of Ukrainian cinematography in Poland, The Week of Ukrainian cinematography in Paris, Cannes and Moscow film festivals will be the next in line.

filmcommission.org.ua

Kyiv joins WTO, EU free trade talks ahead

by Maria Petrova, KyivPost Jonathan Holmberg, Kyiv Post Staff Writer

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy exchange documents during the Feb. 5 signing ceremony at the Geneva, Switzerland headquarters.

After enduring a 14-year marathon of stalling and negotiations, Ukraine gained admission into the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Feb. 5, earning approval from the 151-member body’s General Council.

Ukraine’s long-awaited entry, promised by politicians year after year, is a critical step in the nation’s attempt to improve living standards, integrate with the West, and secure a free trade agreement with the European Union, observers said.

“The terms of accession are substantial, forward-looking, and demonstrate Ukraine’s commitment to global trade based on market forces, transparency and the rule of law,” US Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab said in a Feb. 5 statement.

President Viktor Yushchenko traveled to Geneva, Switzerland to sign the accession protocols with WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy, bringing back to Ukraine the mandate for parliament to ratify the agreement by July 4. Parliament can ratify the WTO membership in the soonest days if it wanted to, said Yuriy Syrotiuk, a political expert with the Kyiv-based Open Society Foundation.

Only the Communist Party of Ukraine will oppose WTO membership, and it’s unlikely it will be able to recruit their ally, the Party of Regions of Ukraine, to the cause, he said.

“It’s not possible for the Regions to be against WTO ratification because party leader Viktor Yanukovych passed the most laws needed for WTO entry when they controlled government,” Syrotiuk said.

During the Geneva signing ceremony, Yushchenko said Ukraine’s WTO accession was “truly an historic moment and decisive milestone in the development of the country,” while Lamy said Ukraine will have “a stable and predictable trade environment that will boost its growth and prosperity.”

It was under Yushchenko’s Western-oriented leadership that negotiations accelerated in the last three years.

The Ukrainian president estimated WTO membership will add 1.7 percent to gross domestic product (GDP) growth and increase foreign direct investment by $3.5 billion annually.

Metals production will rise by 22 percent, the industry’s employment will increase 19 percent and metals exports will rise 26 percent.

Ukraine has already adopted WTO laws on import/export duties, experts said.

“Ukraine is already opened for import, and in 2008 the country’s economy may not feel the impact of WTO admission as lower export duties will not start until 2009,” said economist Oleksiy Blinov.

Formal EU-Ukraine free trade talks will begin in mid-February, EU officials said.

Gaining a seat on the WTO gives Ukraine leverage against the Russian Federation, which has used its energy resources to coerce Ukraine in the past.

Russia’s bid to join the WTO has stalled, largely due to barriers imposed by the US and EU.

Now Ukraine as member will have leverage against Moscow setting conditions for its bigger neighbor’s WTO bid.

However, Ukraine’s president and prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, assured the world community that Ukraine won’t use its WTO status against Russia.

WTO membership does not come without cost and will cause short-term economic hardship in a number of economic sectors, notably agriculture and the nascent auto-industry, experts said.

“Agriculture and food processing, which have long relied on the government on protectionist measures, are expected to experience the heaviest losses immediately after WTO accession,” Kyiv’s investment bank Dragon Capital stated in a January report. Agricultural firms will cut 2008 production by 3 percent year-on-year, while food processing will slow production to 5 percent year-on-year from eight percent the prior year.

Meanwhile, the export-oriented steel and chemical sectors will gain the most from WTO membership, Dragon Capital reported, with improved access to foreign markets.

Upon Ukraine’s accession, all current WTO members will apply the Most Favored Nation and National Treatment principles to products they import from Ukraine, ensuring stable and non-discriminatory access to markets, Dragon Capital reported.

“We therefore forecast Ukrainian steel and chemical producers to increase output and exports in 2008 despite weaker global demand,” the investment bank reported.

kyivpost.com