Mark Law Hitchings, Author at Celluloid Junkie

By marklawhitchings

Unbowed by Russian Invasion, Ukraine Selects “La Palisiada” as Oscar Submission

The race for the 2025 Oscars is underway, and Ukraine once again finds itself in the running for a top honor. Following last year’s victory for “20 Days in Mariupol” in the Best Documentary category, Ukraine has selected another powerful film, “La Palisiada”, to represent the nation in the Best Inte…

CinemaHora forum in Chisinau, Moldova

CinemaHora Forum a Buzzy Success as Moldova’s Future Faces Westwards

Following a hard-fought presidential campaign that saw incumbent, Maia Sandu, triumph over a phalanx of Kremlin-backed candidates in November 2024, Moldova is positively vibrating with good energy. The positivity and good humour were keenly felt at CinemaHora, the film industry forum hosted in Chisi…

A Cinematic Gem: Salisbury Odeon Celebrates 60 Years as One of the World’s Most Unique Cinemas

Having survived a vivid history of turmoil, civil war, developers, and assassination attempts, the building that was saved by a horde of passionate cineastes backed by [English-American philanthropist and passionate movie lover] John Paul Getty Junior is celebrating 60 years as an Odeon and one of w…

The Moldovan flag sits on top of a cinema audience

CJ Exclusive: Moldova Eyes Cultural Growth and Appeal Through Cinema

Much like anywhere else in Chisinau, the Moldovan capital, the Ministry of Culture is having a tough job transforming creaking Soviet architecture and infrastructure into an attractive and welcoming proposition for outside investors. The Minister for Culture, Sergiu Prodan, however, is buoyant. “We…

Moldova's National Film Centre is striving to save its national film archive of 2000 films that are at risk of destruction (photo credit: CNC, Chi?in?u, Moldova)

Moldova Fights to Rescue National Archives of 2000 Films at Risk of Destruction

Landlocked and forgotten, Europe’s most undiscovered nation state has only recently received a boost to its profile, largely due to a slightly discomfiting proximity to the military conflict in Ukraine. In much the same boat as the countries bordering it – Romania and Ukraine – Moldova has also suff…

Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director-General of UzbekFilm, Uzbekistan’s national film agency, has announced new investments in the nation’s film industry

CJ Exclusive: Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Bids to Be Crowned Capital of Central Asia’s Film Industry

Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director-General of UzbekFilm, Uzbekistan’s national film agency, announced a raft of new investments in the nation’s film industry, with the opening round of funding set to begin the positioning of Tashkent as the region’s capital of film and television production. …

The Eternal City, on the outskirts of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, was the location for the glittering closing ceremony of Tashkent International Film Festival

Tashkent International Film Festival: Ambition, Talent & Fireworks Thrill at Glittering Closing Ceremony

The stagecraft and performances weren’t the only eye-opening spectacles at the closing ceremony of the 15th Tashkent International Film Festival, Uzbekistan (September 29 – October 3). Whilst filmmakers, thespians, press, and the great and the good of Uzbek film and television watched the elec…

CJ Exclusive: Uzbekistan Eyes a Bright Future with Film & TV Rebates Set to Rise to 30%

Uzbekistan’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Said Rustamov, says that new tax incentives announced at the Tashkent International Film Festival (Sept 29-Oct 3 2023) will put Uzbekistan on course to become a world leader in film and television production. Mr Rustamov said, “Uzbekistan is investing h…

KIFF Expands Sunny Bunny to Found Kyiv’s First Queer International Film Festival

Just days before he launched Ukraine’s first LGBTQIA+ film festival this month, Celluloid Junkie spoke to organiser Bohdan Zhuk about history, culture, and Russia’s efforts to oppress another generation. With everything that’s going on, what’s the main agenda, I ask. “We’re taking back our legacy,”…

Planeta Kino Tempts Hollywood Back to Ukraine With Dinner and a Movie

Celluloid Junkie visited Kyiv’s Blockbuster Mall for a tour of Planeta Kino and a chat with CEO Natalia Baydan and found that the future of Ukrainian cinema might already be here. The Blockbuster Mall is possibly the shiniest building in Kyiv. A gleaming lump of burnished aluminium and crystalline g…