The official opening of the 14th "Austrian Film Week" festival took place at the capital's "Zhovten" cinema, supported by the Embassy of Austria in Ukraine in collaboration with the film company Arthouse Traffic and the general partner - Austrian gas station chain AMIC ENERGY. The festival will run in Kyiv until May 27.
The opening of the festival was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, the Business Ombudsman of Ukraine Anka Feldhusen, representatives of various public organizations and charitable foundations such as Dignitas, Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation, Ukrainian Catholic University, Superhumans Center, as well as media personalities.
The grand opening of the film festival was marked by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria to Ukraine, Robert Martin Müller, who addressed the audience with a formal speech:
"The 14th Austrian Film Festival continues a very valuable and well-received tradition. In the current, extremely difficult situation for Ukraine, celebrating artistic expression and organizing cultural and social events is an important contribution to the ongoing struggle for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine. In addition to political, financial, humanitarian, and economic support, Austria will continue its close partnership with Ukraine and its people in the cultural sphere as well."
The festival opened with the biographical historical drama "Sisi & I" by Frauke Finsterwalder, starring Sandra Hüller in the lead role. Previously, this film participated in the "Panorama" program of the Berlinale. It is the story of Countess Irma, who becomes the companion of the most popular woman of her time, Empress Sisi, whom she befriends and eventually falls madly in love with. And although the women resist a hostile world, in the end, they are left with only one fatal path that will bind them together forever.
The film festival features a charitable component: as has been the tradition for several consecutive years, the proceeds from ticket sales will be doubled by AMIC ENERGY and directed towards supporting Ukrainians. This year, assistance goes to Superhumans - a modern Ukrainian center that helps people affected by the war. It is worth noting that as part of the film festival, special film screenings will be held at the Superhumans center.
"Today, as Ukraine goes through incredibly difficult trials, culture and art take on special meaning. They help us remain human, feel, and sympathize. That is exactly why it is extremely important for AMIC ENERGY to be a part of this festival and stand by Ukraine. As the only European company in the country's fuel market with a transparent business structure, AMIC ENERGY believes in Ukraine's future within the united European family, where transparency, responsibility, and values are important both for each of us and for the state. After all, Ukraine's greatest strength is its people: brave, talented, and unbreakable, who are building a strong European state today," noted Gintaras Macijauskas, CEO of AMIC ENERGY in Ukraine.
