Ukrainian Series Mania Jury President Julia Sinkeych On Adapting To Life In Lille, Returning To War And Her “Honor” At Being Selected

deadline.com:

Ukrainian filmmaker Julia Sinkevych, this year’s Series Mania Jury President, has spotlighted the strange juxtaposition of spending weeks helping with the war relief effort in her home country before flying to Lille for days of screenings, parties and dinners.The Ukrainian Film Academy Co-Founder returns home this weekend after the prestigious European drama forum’s closing ceremony, which will crown a winner in the International Competition, at which point she will go back to helping with medical supplies, arranging transportation and supporting local filmmakers.Lucky Girl, the film she is producing, was in the final touches of post-production when the Russian invasion stopped the Ukrainian creative industry in its tracks and Sinkevych initially thought she wouldn’t be able to make the trip to Series Mania when she was handed the presidency in what was a beautiful show of solidarity.“This is a different life,” Sinkevych told Deadline during this week’s event. “Back home the environment changed so radically so quickly so when I crossed the border it felt strange.

But at these times you do what you can do best and being here [in Lille] is an important part of my profession.”Sinkevych spent the first two weeks following the invasion in her home of Kyiv but it became too dangerous so she relocated with her mother and aunt to Lviv, leaving the conscripted men in her family behind.She wants to use her platform to give a voice to Ukrainian creators.“We are not heard enough,” she explained. “There is such a lack of knowledge about great Ukrainian artists and many are considered Russian.

It’s time to bring back our nationality.”Sinkevych reeled off several successful Ukrainian projects of the past few years including Berlinale