Odessa International Film Festival

Photo: Odessa International Film Festival Poster
Odessa International Film Festival was established in 2010 with a mission to bring high quality films from all over the world to the Ukrainian audience as well as to encourage the development of film industry in Ukraine and to restore its cinematic tradition. The international competition includes films from all over the world, mostly international or national premieres, for the most demanding and passionate viewers. The film selection is focused on so-called ‘art mainstream’ or the films possessing a refined artistic quality, yet accessible to the broadest possible audience. For Odessa International Film Festival, viewers are the main focus and, from 2012 and on, the festival jury, since the Grand-Prix is awarded by the audience. International Jury awards winners in the Best Film, Best Acting and Best Director categories. Competition also includes the newest films from Ukraine and awards the first and only Ukrainian National Award for the Best Ukrainian Film. Other non-competition sections include retrospectives, tributes, collections of the newest films from different countries and festival hits.
When: middle of July (exact dates are the subject for confirmation each year)
Where: Festival Palace, set in the premises of Musical Comedy Theatre and additional venues (‘Rodina’ Festival Center, Odessa Film Studio, ‘Multiplex’ cinema)

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Odessa Jazz Fest

Photo: Odessa Jazz Fest Poster
Until 2011, the International Jazz Festival was held in Odessa under the name ‘Jazz Carnival in Odessa’. It had a format of a multicultural and free from rigid stylistic frameworks event that was not limited only to the concert halls, but also took place out in the streets. The ‘carnival’ concept of the festival included screenings ‘jazzy’ films, dance projects with DJs, performances from dance schools. The music program always consisted of performances from international musicians playing a completely different jazz. Such an approach allowed ‘Jazz Carnival in Odessa’ to make the program as wide and bright as possible to represent contemporary trends and tendencies in jazz music.
In 2011, it was decided to make a rebranding of the festival due to the change of the concept: to move on from street performances by musicians (carnival) to the direction of the classical festival format. The focus is done now not so much on entertainment, but more on musicality, sound and innovation of the invited projects.
When: September (exact dates are the subject for confirmation each year)
Where: Odessa National Philharmonic, The Public Garden in Deribasovska street, ‘I Love You, Petrovich’ publicity-bar.

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One can always find something to do in Odessa with its famous Opera House, variety of interesting thematic museums, fashion events and food festivals. However, there are two main annual art events in Odessa that have an international fame and that are really worth visiting.