Ukraine Content Club announces projects, selection panel to partner fresh Ukrainian drama with the int’l market

Ukraine Content Club has announced the six scripted projects chosen for its 2023 progamme and the first members of the selection panel that will decide which go through to the next financing round.

The line-up includes Nest of Snakes, Potion, Taras, Tricker, Really? and Stolen Happiness, showcasing a broad range of stories and genres by prominent Ukrainian authors and producers. Backing these stories are UCC founding members and leading Ukrainian media companies FILM.UA Group, Starlight Media, 1+1 Media and Suspilne Ukraine.

Three of the six will be selected by a panel of international content executives during March to go through to the financing round, with the winning projects to be unveiled at MipTV. The documentary part of the initiative will also be launched at MipTV, to run alongside the drama strand.

The first execs to join the panel include: David Davoli, president, International at Anonymous Content; Carlo Dusi, managing director of Endor Productions; Emmanuelle Guilbart, co-founder and joint-CEO of About Premium Content and APC Studios; Marc Lorber, most recently senior VP of international TV coproductions and acquisitions at Lionsgate; Julie Meldal-Johnsen, executive VP of global content, ITV Studios; Simon Mirren, Case Closed founder and former Criminal Minds exec producer; Henrik Pabst, managing director of Seven.One Studios and chief content officer, entertainment for Seven.One Entertainment; and Christian Wikander (currently head of HBO Nordics ahead of his pending move to Banijay), with further announcements pending.

On joining the selection panel, David Davoli said: “I am grateful to have been asked to join such an important initiative. It will be rewarding on many levels to mine the depths of great storytelling in Ukraine that is sure to live amongst such brave people.”

“Supporting Ukrainian scripted drama with this initiative is the least we can do as an international television community. It’s an honour to be involved in this endeavour and distinguished group,” added Marc Lorber.

In addition to selecting the best three projects, the panel will provide notes to help project creators to shape their shows with the biggest potential for the global audience and help bring them to screens around the world.

“UCC is first and foremost a practical tool designed to bring Ukrainian content creators and the global AV industry together at the time when we all need it,” said Dmytro Troitskiy, director of television, Starlight Media.

“The Ukrainian filmmakers never stopped. We offer exciting stories that can only be born out of unique circumstances. We are happy so many partners and people whose expertise we trust have already come on board. Through the UCC initiative, and with their support, we aim to offer the market a scalable and returnable tool to bring these stories to a global audience.”

C21 will host the initiative on its C21Screenings platform, which will showcase a video pitch for each project supported by additional content. This will be available to C21’s community of 200,000 monthly uniques, in addition to the selection panel.

David Jenkinson, C21’s editor-in-chief & managing director, said: “We are proud to host this UCC initiative. There is a rich seam of creativity to be mined from Ukrainian storytellers. If we can help facilitate bringing some of these projects to life, we will have delivered on our core mission: to connect the best new content with international partners to create compelling series for a global audience.”

The process and results of the initiative will culminate in a panel at Content London 2023.

This stage of the initiative will be unveiled today at the Göteborg Film Festival in Sweden.