On June 10, 2025, a meeting of the Public Council under the Ukrainian State Film Agency (hereinafter – the Public Council) took place. It was convened to resume the Council’s activities and elect a new chair following the tragic death of the former head, Stanislav Prytula. Beyond procedural matters, the meeting highlighted a crisis in the Council’s representative capacity and underscored the need to rethink its role in the national film sector.

The session gathered all current members of the Public Council. However, several participants announced their withdrawal during the discussions, citing the loss of the Council’s effectiveness as an advisory body, despite their years of involvement. Specifically, Volodymyr Voitenko declared that the Council had failed in its core mission—to represent the interests of the professional community in dialogue with the State Film Agency—and withdrew from the body. A similar stance was taken by Zhanna Maksymenko-Dovhych, who emphasized the Council’s lack of practical influence on policy formation in the film sector. These statements were supported by other members present.

The Council proceeded to elect a new chairperson. As a result of the vote, Oleksandr Borysenko was appointed. In his inaugural remarks, O.Borysenko outlined his key priorities: revising internal procedures, updating the Council’s communication format with the State Film Agency, and strengthening its advisory role as a platform for professional dialogue and influence.

The newly appointed head of the State Film Agency, Andriy Osipov, also joined the meeting. In his address, he identified several pressing challenges currently facing the agency, including regulatory inconsistencies, the suspension of key funding processes, staffing changes, and the impact of ongoing military actions, such as the recent damage to the Odesa Film Studio on the eve of the meeting. Osipov expressed readiness for open cooperation with the Public Council and called for its potential to be harnessed in order to enhance transparency and efficiency in cultural policy within the film sector.

An individual position was presented by Council member Tetiana Ilchuk (co-founder of the Ukrainian Media League and delegate from the NGO “Association for the Protection and Revival of Ukrainian Cinematic Heritage”). She emphasized the need for a dedicated strategic discussion, to be followed by broader consultations involving independent institutions, civic organizations, and industry experts. According to Ilchuk, such an initiative would allow for a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the film industry, a better understanding of the sector’s needs, and the development of an updated model for the Public Council’s operation. This proposal was supported and included in the Council’s future work plan.

In the near future, a strategic session is expected to be convened, during which the head of the State Film Agency will communicate his vision for the development of both the Council and the sector, taking into account wartime conditions, market transformation, and the goals of post-crisis recovery for the Ukrainian film industry.

The full minutes of the Public Council meeting of June 10, 2025, are available on the official website of the Ukrainian State Film Agency.

 

About the Institutions:

The Ukrainian State Film Agency (Derzhkino) is a central executive authority responsible for shaping and implementing state policy in the field of cinematography. Its activities are coordinated by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine through the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications.

The Public Council under the State Film Agency is an advisory body established to enable citizens to exercise their constitutional right to participate in the management of public affairs; to ensure public oversight of the Agency’s activities; and to promote the consideration of public opinion in the formulation and implementation of state policy. The Public Council was formed in 2021 and unites active, knowledgeable civic institutions in the fields of media and cinema. It operates in accordance with the Resolution and Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 996 dated June 17, 2024.

 

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