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Let the movies in: the 11th Odesa International Film Festival presents its image video

Promotional video stars the program director and programmer of the festival

The Odesa International Film Festival, which is to be held online for the first time this year, continues its mission to cultivate high-quality intellectual cinema. And even now, when the usual cinema experience is impossible, OIFF audience have the opportunity to let the movies in and feel the festival atmosphere without having to leave their home.

The creative agency BBDO Ukraine as OIFF creative partner approved the idea of the campaign in February. However, the pandemic not only made adjustments to the organizers' plans, but also made the first idea of the campaign completely irrelevant. So the agency had to completely redefine the festival and create a new campaign from scratch. The OIFF and BBDO have recently presented a new festival identity. Now the campaign is complemented by a touching video.

“Every OIFF image video is a very responsible and exciting event. Cinema has its own requirements and rules, which we always strive to embody in videos, when telling a story. This is a very interesting creative process among like-minded people and in this video they are on and behind the screen. This year the 11th OIFF will be held online and thus we wanted to address our audience through the main characters. Through the screen they sincerely convey this year's message to the audience - let the movies in. After all, cinema should be seen. And for cinephiles and OIFF fans there are many easter eggs in the video: the favorite director, last year's winning film allusion and the main characters, who, in fact, create the festival”,  OIFF general producer Julia Sinkevych said.

The concept of the promo video of the 11th Odesa International Film Festival is based on this very idea and was directed by the famous Ukrainian film director Akhtem Seitablayev. The video was shot over one night, during which the team managed to tell the whole adventurous cinematic story. The video stars those who create OIFF content - the program director of the festival Anthelme Vidaud and programmer Lyolya Goldstein.

“Given this year's format of the festival, the image video had to fit into the context. At the same time we tried to make it atmospheric, targeted and informative. For me, the main task was to make sure that the audience didn't feel sorry for the main characters. I think it worked. After all, it is important to understand that you shouldn't feel sorry neither for Ukrainian cinema nor for Ukrainian film festivals. This is a miracle of cinema, which for some objective reasons cannot take place in cinemas at the moment. But there is an opportunity to invite cinema to your home”, Akhtem Seitablayev said.

The creative team of BBDO Ukraine and the Family Production company, which was responsible for the production, did everything possible for each film to find its home. The video tells the story of the protagonist who embodies the entire film industry left on the street.

“Creating a film about the film industry is a very inspiring challenge. Since this is a film, we need to tell a story. And when everyone believes in the work we do - from the copywriter to the technical specialist on the set - we can be sure that the audience will feel it. I am grateful to Julia Sinkevych for putting her trust in us, to Akhtem Seitablayev, Anton Fursa and Anastasiya Bukovska for their skill”, Regional Executive Creative Director BBDO Ukraine & Central Asia Anze Jereb said.

“Odesa film festival is love at first sight. That's where I meet people I haven't seen in Kyiv for years, I watch movies for which I don't have enough time at home. Therefore, to cooperate with the OIFF for the second year in a row is a great honor and joy for me. I am proud of the festival team, which, despite all the challenges of 2020, has mustered all strength and redefined the traditional format of the festival. I believe that this year's festival will be as always a significant event in the cultural calendar of Ukraine", Family Production producer Anastasiya Bukovska said.

The promo video of the 11th Odesa International Film Festival  

The 11th Odesa International Film Festival will take place online from 25 September to 3 October 2020. Festival Passes can be purchased at https://oiff.online/festival-pass.