Kyiv Media Week has successfully executed six special events within three European festivals and markets with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Traditionally, the KMW International Media Forum was held annually in the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, but since the war with Russia prevented the event from taking place this year, the Forum was held in a traveling format.
The KMW '22 journey began with the International Festival of Web and TV Series Serial Killer (September 20-25, Brno, Czech Republic), where the organizers presented four sessions developed in partnership with the Festival. During the discussions, Ukrainian, Estonian, Czech, and British audiovisual business experts presented the Ukrainian industry as an integral part of the global market, showing that its future is firmly tied with the European one.
The midpoint of the Forum was at the MIA | International Audiovisual Market (October 11-15, Rome, Italy), where the panel discussion “The Social Impact of Content,” featuring representatives of Finnish public broadcaster YLE, the UK’s biggest producers and distributors union PACT, and Ukrainian FILM.UA Group and Suspilne Ukraine, took place under the auspices of Kyiv Media Week.
KMW '22 completed its journey in France at the 38th International Co-Production and Entertainment Content Market Mipcom (October 17-20, Cannes, France), where the “Stand Up and Coproduce. The Ukrainian Experience” session took place. The discussion featured representatives of the leading Ukrainian media companies and their partners from Red Arrow Studios International and Gaumont from Germany, and Yellow Film & TV from Finland.
“The interest in the events and the engagement of the European festivals’ attendees reflect true support of the international media community. Warmly welcomed by the audience, these six KMW sessions were aimed at raising awareness of Ukraine and the achievements of the industry during the war, as well as at strengthening the international network and creating collaborations between Ukrainian and international content producers. Now it is crucially important for presenting our cultural, historical and social values as an integral part of the modern civilized world,” said Kateryna Udut, Head of KMW and CEO of MRM.
“USAID is proud to support Kyiv Media Week, which gives voice to Ukraine’s creative industries and shows how much Ukraine has to offer the world. Our partnership with Kyiv Media Week helped Ukrainian professionals participate in major European creative industry events in Rome, Cannes, and Brno. This allowed more people to understand the importance of supporting Ukraine’s struggle, and of partnering with Ukrainians to support the country both during and after the war. USAID will continue to stand with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people as they resist Russia’s aggression and build an independent, sovereign, democratic, and prosperous future,” added USAID/Ukraine Acting Mission Director, Susan Kutor.