Mumbai: Having previously announced four jury members, Series Mania president Rodolphe Belmer, and founder and general director Laurence Herszberg on Wednesday announced that Ukrainian film producer Julia Sinkevych has been selected as jury president for this year’s Series Mania Festival and its international competition. As her presence in Lille is not certain at this point in time, renowned French writer and director Marc Dugain has been appointed as vice-president of this year’s jury. 

“We have chosen to give the presidency of the jury of the Series Mania International Competition to a Ukrainian woman, producer, and manager for several years of one of the most important film festivals in Eastern Europe: the Odesa International Film Festival (of which Series Mania has long been a partner of)," commented Belmer. "By proposing this presidency to Julia Sinkevych, who carries the colors of culture in a wounded country, we wish to show our support for the people of Ukraine and attest the importance of festivals in a world in crisis, as they create a place for people to come together to exchange ideas and celebrate our diversities.” 

“We have always said that series are the mirror to a period of time that resonate through their stories, their characters, and their subjects. Series Mania has always been dedicated to reflecting this continuous and intimate dialogue between culture and society. This is why we feel it is essential today to turn our attention to the tragic situation that is shaking Ukraine and the entire world,” stated Herszberg.

“By bringing together, under the presidency of a Ukrainian producer, a Turkish screenwriter, a German actor, a French writer and director, an Israeli actress and a French singer, the jury of the international competition, which embodies the core of Series Mania, demonstrates that culture knows no constraints or borders,” added Herszberg.

In addition to being a producer, Sinkevych is co-founder of the Ukrainian Film Academy, and a member of the European Film Academy. She has always been committed to supporting Ukrainian artists and the culture of her country from Kyiv, where she lives. 

Working previously for several years for distribution and production company Arthouse Traffic, she was in charge of festival promotion of the selection of short films “Angry Ukrainians” and feature films produced by the company as well as for promotion of young Ukrainian filmmakers and international cooperation between film industry professionals from Ukraine and abroad. Over the years, she established a network of professional contacts in cultural and audiovisual sectors in Ukraine and abroad. Sinkevych has also co-produced a documentary film “Close relations” by Vitaliy Mansky (2016) and “Heatsingers” (2019) by Nadia Parfan. Currently Julia is working on feature films “Lucky girl” by Marysia Nikitiuk and “Lesia” by Nana Janelidze. Julia Sinkevych graduated from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, faculty of law and holds an MA in film production of Kyiv University of Theatre, Film and Television. She was selected to take part in SOFA program (School of film agents, Poland-Germany), completed NIPKOW program.

“At these times we know that culture is a powerful tool to stop the aggression and to bring to the world new talent. My country is part of that world cinema and now is fighting against all odds to demonstrate that it is the right of each human being to bring beauty, art, peace, and novelty to this world,” commented Sinkevych.

Jury members previously announced include German actor Christian Berkel ("Downfall, Valkyrie"), Israeli actress Shira Haas ("Unorthodox"), Turkish creator and director Berkun Oya ("Bir Baskadir") and French singer-songwriter and model Yseult.