The European Solidarity Fund for Ukrainian Films have announced their second call for projects.

The European Solidarity Fund for Ukrainian Films is an initiative launched in February 2023 in Berlin. After having supported various actions for Ukraine at a national and European level, EFAD and its members wanted to launch a dedicated support for Ukrainian filmmakers, to support the completion of films or the development of new projects, while fostering co-productions. ESFUF brings together 19 partners from 16 different countries, the EFAD association, some of its members (15 EFAD members), and Culture Ministries.

Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland is proud to support the Fund as it opens its second call for projects and welcomes the Danish Film Institute as a new contributing country.

The eligible projects are:

long-length cinematographic works directed by a Ukrainian filmmaker, intended to be first released in theatres;

belonging to the genres of fiction, documentary, and animation;

co-produced between a Ukrainian production company and a production company established in the ESFUF contributing countries (Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom)

In case of a second submission of the same project, you’ll have to provide an additional note explaining the reasons for the new deposit, and the evolutions on the artistical and financial aspects of the project.

The Fund had previously announced the 11 successful projects of the first round at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, including the Ukrainian-Irish co-production Special Treat.

The deadline for applications is September 1st 2023.

In the first call for projects, development support was allocated to:

Ashes Settling in Layers on the Surface
by Zoya Laktionova
Ukrainian production company: 2Brave Production
French production company: Cinephage Production
Amount of the support: 25 000 €


It’s Not a Full Picture
by Maryna Stepanska
Ukrainian production company: JS Films
Portuguese production company: Bando a parte
Amount of the support: 25 000 €


Special Treat
by Antonio Lukich
Ukrainian production company: Fore Films
Irish production company: Feline Films
Amount of the support: 50.000 €


The Shadows
by Polina Kelm
Ukrainian production company: Contemporary Ukrainian Cinema
Lithuanian production company: Anaben Films
Amount of the support: 25.000 €


To the Victory!
by Valentyn Vasyanovych
Ukrainian production company: Arsenal Films
Lithuanian production company: M-Films
Amount of the support: 49.950 €


Unholy Power
by Roman Liubyi
Ukrainian production company: Babylon 13 Production
German production company: Benedetta Films
Amount of the support: 42.200 €