MIPCOM 2016: Ukraine keeps surprising

Annual international audiovisual content market MIPCOM finished – this year it was held on October 17-20 in Cannes. The market has set new records – MIPCOM gathered 2,000 companies from 108 countries, the total number of delegates reached 14,000.

MRM team was traditionally represented by Victoria Yarmoshchuk and Kateryna Udut, who took an active part in the international media forum. We’d like to thank organizing company Reed MIDEM for assistance and support.

This year the country of honor was Japan. But Ukraine attracted lots of hype and attention at the market – firstly thanks to the adoption of the Law on the state support of the cinematography – the state will now return 25% of qualified costs spent on film production in Ukraine. 

“Though the law has not yet been signed by the president and has not entered into force (we honestly tell about it), the magic word ‘rebate’ immediately singled Ukraine out among other countries: we are a unique location for filming, we have highly qualified experts, and production on this territory is much cheaper than in any other European country,” – says Kateryna Vyshnevska, head of development and co-production at FILM.UA Group. “It is not just our impressions or assumptions; after MIPCOM we already have two projects from foreign producers submitted for a budget estimate”.

Victoria Yarmoshchuk, CEO of MRM, adds: “The main thing to note this time is that Ukraine is already well known. It becomes understandable, and others start looking at it with great interest. As proof, I can cite the list of publications who mentioned Ukraine this time: TBI Formats and TBI, Prensario International, C21 International, Worldscreen, Realscreen, Animation Magazine, International TV Bizz, Senal International, MIP Preview and each edition of MIP Daily. We should support this trend all together, consolidate Ukrainian market, transmit the right messages and act jointly. According to the estimates of numerous foreign colleagues, Ukraine objectively overtakes other territories in many aspects: I mean our active involvement, successes on the international market, experts’ qualification, etc. Now it is very important to justify this credibility and strengthen our reputation successes through joint Ukrainian industry events at the following international gatherings, including Cannes”.

Leading Ukrainian company broke the market with their new ambitious projects and partnerships. So, for example, the main point of pride for FILM.UA Group was the premiere of Japanese adaptation of The Sniffer – on the first market day the largest Japanese broadcaster NHK presented the first episode of the finished product in 4K. The series premiered in Japan on 22 October. This is the first time in history when the NHK adapts a foreign scripted format.

Ukraine at MIPCOM proved itself as a country with high innovative and technological potential as well – FILM.UA Group and Armoza Formats (Israel) have agreed on joint participation in the development and promotion of AR and VR content. While FILM.UA focuses on the production part, Armoza will deal with creative and distribution activities.

In addition, Ukrainian formats spark great interest with foreign buyers, since UA Formats Catalogue replenished with six projects this year. Totally, UA Formats incorporated 27 titles, and Ukrainian formats from the catalogue have been sold to such countries as Russia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, France and Japan. We believe that Ukrainian formats will soon conquer the entire globe.

MIPCOM was a success for Studio Kvartal 95 as well. Make Me Laugh format, which has already conquered many countries, including China and Vietnam, was sold to Finland where it is now being prepared for production and casting has been announced already. The development and production of Make Me Laugh in Finland will be made by local prodco Yellow Film & TV. Premiere is scheduled for spring 2017, Eccho Rights deals with international distribution of the format. 

Besides, Ukraine drew attention to the premiere of Mata Hari, which was held in the great hall of the Palais des Festivals – Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere, which seats 2,300 people. Guests and participants of MIPCOM saw a piece of 12-episode drama, based on real events and tells the story of famous exotic dancer. Mata Hari is a co-production of Star Media, First Channel (Russia) and Inter TV channel (Ukraine).

We congratulate Ukrainian companies with their MIPCOM success and wish further global victories. Follow the news on our website and to Facebook.