Move East Movie – film screenings at East of Culture – Different Sounds 2024
Since its inception, the Move East Movie film series has been an integral part of East of Culture – Different Sounds festival. This carefully curated selection of films serves as a gateway for Polish audiences to discover the rich tapestry of contemporary cinema from neighboring Eastern European countries. It champions films that are both socially conscious and artistically captivating.
This is the 17th edition of Different Sounds organised by Workshops of Culture in Lublin and the 11th edition held under the banner of East of Culture, a project implemented by the National Centre for Culture with funds from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and by 3 cities in eastern Poland – Lublin, Białystok and Rzeszów.
In crafting this year’s film selection, we were driven by a strong desire to honour the festival’s name and stir emotions, explains Agnieszka Wojciechowska, the festival’s programming director. This year’s lineup features two documentaries that showcase the profound impact of cinema and music in the face of adversity and even extreme human experiences. In this context, the words of Ukrainian filmmaker Iryna Tsilyk, whose two films we will be screening this year, resonate particularly deeply. She has said, ‚Art has the power to break the ice between us, making it easier to cope with trauma. It bears witness to everything that is funny, joyful, and full of laughter, even amidst extraordinary darkness.
We will also offer our audience a respite with two feature films that transport viewers into a world of memories, youth, a sense of unreality, and even an otherworldly, magical trance, adds Rafał Chwała, the festival’s artistic director.
Films
29 June – Saturday
14.00–15.30 | “Mustache Funk”, dir. Oleksandr Kovsh, Ukraine, 2020, 73 min. | Workshops of Culture, Grodzka 5a – auditorium, 2nd floor | UKR/PL
Mustache Funk is a captivating Ukrainian documentary that delves into the vibrant emergence of pop music in the Ukrainian SSR during the 1970s. The film traces its roots back to a late 1960s decision by the Soviet Politburo to create Western-style bands to steer youth away from Western music. These groups, known as VIA (Vocal and Instrumental Ensembles), ushered in what many consider the „golden era” of Ukrainian pop music. The filmmakers fittingly titled the documentary „Mustache Funk” as most members of these iconic bands sported moustaches.
The film chronicles the stories of the most colourful musical groups from this era, with a screenplay penned by Vitaliy „Bard” Bardetsky, a Ukrainian music journalist, concert promoter, and former manager of several Ukrainian pop bands, including Okean Elzy. Mustache Funk premiered at the 49th Kyiv International Film Festival „Molodist” in late 2020.
Born in 1963, Oleksandr Kovsh studied directing at the Karpenko-Karyi National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television in Kyiv. He has worked for numerous Ukrainian national channels, including Internews Ukraine, UT-1, and Ютар. In 2012, he became the chief director of documentaries produced by TRC „Ukraina”.
16.00–17.45 | Rock. Paper. Grenade., dir. Iryna Tsilyk, Ukraine, 2022, 92 min.| Workshops of Culture, Grodzka 5a – auditorium 2nd floor | UKR/PL
„Rock Paper Grenade” is a poignant coming-of-age story set in the tumultuous backdrop of post-Soviet Ukraine. The film follows Tymofiy, a young boy growing up in a provincial town, as he navigates the complexities of adolescence, first encounters with kindness and cruelty, the joys and struggles of teenage love, and the search for friendship and mentorship. Tymofiy’s life takes an unexpected turn when he befriends Felix, a charismatic but troubled veteran of the Afghan War. A former counterintelligence officer, Felix is now a broken man battling alcoholism, yet he possesses an undeniable charm that draws Tymofiy in. Their friendship is a whirlwind of adventure and danger, mirroring the unpredictable and often harsh realities of growing up in the 1990s. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Iryna Tsilyk’s husband, Artem Chekh, who also co-wrote the screenplay.
Born in Kyiv on November 18, 1982, Iryna Tsilyk is a Ukrainian filmmaker and writer. After graduating with a degree in television directing from the Karpenko-Karyi National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television in Kyiv (2005), Tsilyk honed her skills as an assistant director before launching into directing commercials and short films. These early works impressed audiences and critics alike, garnering recognition at international film festivals. Tsilyk’s true breakout moment came with her feature film directorial debut, „The Earth Is Blue as an Orange”. This film earned her the prestigious Directing Award in the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
Beyond filmmaking, Tsilyk is also an accomplished writer. Her works have been translated into multiple languages and presented at international literary festivals. She was an active participant in the Euromaidan protests in Kyiv. In 2020, she was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Ukraine by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, an honour she declined. She is married to writer Artem Chekh.
30 June – Sunday
14.00–15.30 | The Earth Is Blue as an Orange, dir. Iryna Tsilyk, Lithuania / Ukraine, 2020, 74 min.| Workshops of Culture, Grodzka 5a – auditorium, 2nd floor | UKR, POL
On the war-torn Donbas frontlines in Ukraine, a family finds solace in the most unexpected place: cinema. Anna, a single mother, shields her four children from the chaos and bombings raging outside. Within the walls of their home, she strives to create a vibrant haven, brimming with hope and a sense of normalcy. United by their love for cinema, the family embarks on a remarkable project: a film inspired by their daily struggles amidst the ongoing war.
This heartwarming narrative delves into the power of art in the face of unimaginable hardship. What solace can the magical world of cinema offer during a war catastrophe? Can fiction accurately portray the horrors of war? Is art the best way to preserve humanity in a completely dehumanized reality? For Anna and her family, filmmaking turns out to be a healing therapy—it becomes a tool for transforming war trauma into art.
Born in Kyiv on November 18, 1982, Iryna Tsilyk is a Ukrainian filmmaker and writer. After graduating with a degree in television directing from the Karpenko-Karyi National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television in Kyiv (2005), Tsilyk honed her skills as an assistant director before launching into directing commercials and short films. These early works impressed audiences and critics alike, garnering recognition at international film festivals. Tsilyk’s true breakout moment came with her feature film directorial debut, „The Earth Is Blue as an Orange”. This film earned her the prestigious Directing Award in the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
Beyond filmmaking, Tsilyk is also an accomplished writer. Her works have been translated into multiple languages and presented at international literary festivals. She was an active participant in the Euromaidan protests in Kyiv. In 2020, she was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Ukraine by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, an honour she declined. She is married to writer Artem Chekh.
16.00 – 17.45 | Pamfir, dir. Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, Ukraine, 2022, 102 min. | Workshops of Culture in Lublin, Grodzka 5a – auditorium, 2nd floor| UKR / PL
Leonid, once known as Pamfir, had left behind his smuggling days to pursue an honest living in Poland. After a lengthy absence, he returns to his remote village on the Ukrainian-Romanian border. His longing son, in an act of desperation, sets fire to the local church, believing it will keep his father home. However, the church no longer belongs to the church, but to the local mafia. To pay off the debt, Leonid must reactivate his old criminal connections, and each decision he makes draws him deeper into a web of corruption and mafia dealings.
Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, born in 1983, is a Ukrainian filmmaker gaining recognition for his gritty and thought-provoking films. His notable works include „The Weightlifter,” „Pamfir,” and „Liturgy of Anti-Tank Barriers.”
East of Culture – Different Sounds
This year’s edition of the East of Culture – Different Sounds festival takes place in Lublin, from June 27-30, 2024. It is a true celebration for fans of alternative music that prides itself on delivering an eclectic mix of musical styles and genres, ensuring attendees experience nothing short of high artistic quality, originality, and a programme that transcends generations and disciplines. However, this festival is more than just music. Each year, the audience can engage with ambitious literature, captivating cinema, visual arts and photography. They can also take part in workshops designed for families.
Admission to the festival remains free, with more announcements coming soon! More information: differentsounds.eu and www.nck.pl/projekty-kulturalne/projekty/wschod-kultury
East of Culture – Different Sounds
27-30 June 2024
Lublin, Błonia near the Castle
Admission is free
Organisers: The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, The National Centre for Culture, the City of Lublin, Workshops of Culture in Lublin