Ukraine

British bookies are currently offering odds of 7/18 for Ukraine to triumph at this evening’s Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy, with their entry Kalush Orchestra ’s distinctive blend of rap and folk music, combined with the country’s current courage in the face of Russian invasion, expected to unite voters across Europe in support. The frontman and writer Oleh Psiuk – distinctive throughout this week in Turin with his pink hat – told the BBC before the band came through their semi-final: “For our country it is so important to have victories in all ways. So if we win, it will be another opportunity to show Ukraine to the world, to remind people about Ukraine, and to increase morale in the whole country.” The band’s song Stefania was originally inspired by Psiuk’s mother, but lines such as “I will always walk to you by broken roads” have become interpreted in context of the country’s current plight. Psiuk told the BBC separately this week: “The song was … [Read more...] about Eurovision Hopes: Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra And UK’s Sam Ryder Favourites For Tonight’s Song Contest

DNIPRO, Ukraine — Before the war, Rabbi Meyr Stambler never broke Shabbat and never lied to his wife, with whom he had lived for 28 years. Now he has done both. If there is an emergency, like evacuations, he will answer his phone on Saturdays. In the early days of the Russian invasion, he sent his wife Sarah, his ten children, and his three grandkids to Israel, promising he would join them in a few days. But he lied. He never meant to leave Ukraine. Rabbi Stambler, the Chairman of the Chabad-affiliated Council of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, came to Dnipro from New York in 1991. He was nineteen years old. He has lived here ever since. He considers himself Ukrainian. “On average I sleep three hours per day,” he says. “Now I can devote all my time to helping my community without being worried for my family. I decided it was time for them to flee after the nuclear power plant in Zaporizzhya region — 130 miles away —  was overtaken by Russians troops in the early … [Read more...] about Ukraine’s Jewish Community Fights Back Against Russia’s Invasion — and Against Putin’s Lies

Ukraine ’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has greeted his country’s victory at the Eurovision Song Contest with delight. The highly-favoured Kalush Orchestra won the competition on Saturday, with a record number of 439 people’s votes from across Europe clinching their success on an emotional evening in Turin, Italy. Zelensky said afterwards: “Our courage impresses the world, our music conquers Europe!” The winner of each year’s Contest traditionally becomes the event host the following year, and Zelensky promised that Ukraine would be no exception, despite its current plight following invasion by Russia. “We will do our best to one day host the participants and guests of Eurovision in Ukrainian Mariupol. Free, peaceful, rebuilt! I am sure our victorious chord in the battle with the enemy is not far off.” In a turn up for the books after more than a decade of disaster at the competition, the UK also did very well, with Sam Ryder coming second. The UK … [Read more...] about “Next Year, Mariupol!”: Ukraine President Delights In Eurovision Victory, Pledges To Host 2023 Contest

The Recording Academy is partnering with Global Citizen and the global “Stand Up For Ukraine ” campaign on a special segment at Sunday’s Grammy Awards , intended to raise awareness of the situation in the country, following Russia’s invasion. The news follows Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s appeal to the international community on behalf of his citizens, who have been displaced and injured by the war, to take part in an online social media rally on April 9, which will provide support to those who have been forced to flee the country. “I’m inviting everybody: musicians, actors, athletes, businessmen, politicians, everybody,” Zelenskyy said. “Everyone who wants to join this movement and ‘Stand Up for Ukraine.'” Recording Academy partner Global Citizen has played a leading role, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in organizing the April 9 “Stand Up For Ukraine” pledging summit to help … [Read more...] about 64th Grammys To Spotlight Situation In Ukraine Via Special Segment

The $20M Ukraine Content Club has officially launched and founder Kateryna Vyshnevska is heading to L.A. to drum up support from the major U.S. studios and streamers. Deadline spoke to FILM.UA co-pro exec Vyshnevska last month , at which point she unveiled plans for a fund to help sustain Ukraine ’s embattled TV industry. That fund is now officially called the Ukraine Content Club and is open for investment, backed by the likes of influential UK producer trade body Pact. Vyshnevska, who used to split her time between the UK and Ukraine, told Deadline: “We believe that as an industry we must stand together with our Ukrainian colleagues. An alive and thriving Ukrainian content industry will allow Ukrainian people to rebuild, will foster deeper cultural integration across the world, will take the load off global economies and, therefore, will enable us all to continue doing what we do best – produce content.” She is heading to L.A. to drum up support tomorrow and … [Read more...] about The $20M Ukraine Content Club Is Open For Business; Founder Kateryna Vyshnevska Heading To L.A.

EXCLUSIVE : Vision Films ’ CEO and Managing Director Lise Romanoff has closed a deal with Andrei Bocharnikov of Ukraine ’s Festivals Cinema to theatrically release six films in the region—the goal being to provide a little respite, distraction and hope for all those in the country who are struggling, amid Russia’s invasion. Festivals Cinema, based in Kharkiv, will first exhibit Paul Schneider’s inspirational family drama Just Another Dream , starring Kristy Swanson and Dean Cain, and produced by Charles Franz. It will then release the sci-fi pic Alpha Code , starring Denise Richards, which Keoni Waxman directed with Milan Friedrich producing. Thrillers 7th Secret and Seal of Desire will follow, along with the documentaries Queen Elizabeth II: Her Glorious Reign and Prince Philip: The Man Behind the Throne . Festivals Cinema will also expand its theatrical release of Tango Shalom to Poland, with full support of the filmmakers. The film, which has … [Read more...] about Vision Films Closes Deal For Theatrical Distribution Of Six Titles In Ukraine

The 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival officially kicked off this evening with an emotional opening ceremony that reached a pinnacle as Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky appeared via video to address the Palais audience live from Kyiv. During his speech, Zelensky referred to Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator and the role that film had in denouncing Hitler during World War II; the 1940 picture “didn’t destroy the real dictator, but thanks to this film, cinema was not silent,” he said. The Ukraine president continued, “On February 24, Russia began a war of huge proportion against Ukraine with the intention of going further into Europe… Hundreds of people die every day. They are not going to get up after the end clap… Will cinema stay silent, or will it talk about it? If there is a dictator, if there is a war for freedom, again, it all depends on our unity. Can cinema stay out of this unity?… We need a new Chaplin who will prove that, in our time, cinema is not … [Read more...] about Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky Addresses Cannes Opening Ceremony: “Cinema Must Not Be Silent”

Eurovision traditionally has been a place where politics were frowned upon, at least in the overt songs . But the war in Ukraine is much on the world’s mind, so Eurovision made a statement right at the top of today’s finals. The show began with the audience singing “Give Peace a Chance,” the first of many nods to the ongoing combat situation. Later, Laura Pausini, the Italian cohost, used her opening number for a “Peace on. Earth” message. Later, Iceland’s entry had a Ukranian flag on their hands and guitars and shouted “Peace for Ukraine” at the end of their performance. And virtually every delegation held a Ukrainian flag along with their own in tharena’s Green Room section. Highlighting the competition’s final round, broadcast live from Italy to millions around the world, was the appearance of Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra. Their song, “Stefania,” was considered a favorite heading into the finals. After its performance tonight, one of the singers said in halting English, … [Read more...] about Eurovision Sees Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra Win, As Performers Take A Political Turn

It's maybe the most incredible gaffe of the year -- and that's saying something -- former President George W. Bush tried to take aim at Vladimir Putin , and it boomeranged right back on him. W. was speaking at SMU's George W. Bush Institute when he groused about Putin's invasion of Ukraine ... he was trying to say the war was the brainchild of a tyrant who brazenly invaded a neighboring country without any justification. But, here's how it came out ... "Political opponents are imprisoned or otherwise eliminated from participating in the electoral process. The result is an absence of checks and balances in Russia and the decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq." Well, he quickly corrected himself, saying "I mean of Ukraine," and then just shrugged. As you know, Bush launched a U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 on the pretext Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction ... there were no such weapons but lots of destruction … [Read more...] about George W. Bush Flubs, Equates Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine to His Invasion of Iraq

The Eurovision Song Contest’s participants are officially banned from making any political statements from the stage, either verbally or in their lyrics, but that didn’t stop Ukraine ’s Kalush Orchestra . The band’s frontman Oleh Psiuk finished its performance of Stefania with an impassioned plea for the world to help free Ukrainian fighters trapped beneath the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. As the band’s members took their bows, Psiuk shouted, “Help Azovstal, right now.” The event’s organisers – the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – announced that, despite its rules banning politics, no action would be taken against Kalush Orchestra, who went on to win the competition with an astounding 439 audience votes from across Europe. The EBU said: “We understand the deep feelings around Ukraine at this moment and believe the comments of the Kalush Orchestra and other artists expressing support for the Ukrainian people to be humanitarian rather than political in … [Read more...] about “Humanitarian Gesture”: Eurovision Winners Kalush Orchestra Escape Punishment For Political Statement During Winning Performance