Maryna Anatoliivna Vroda[a] (born 22 February 1982) is a Ukrainian film director and screenwriter.

Maryna Vroda
Марина Врода
Maryna in 2023
Born
Vroda Maryna Anatoliivna

(1982-02-22) 22 February 1982 (age 42)
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Film director and screenwriter
Awardssee here

Early life and education edit

Born on 22 February 1982, in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Maryna graduated from the Kyiv Secondary School No. 113,[1] and later enrolled at the Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema and Television University and was awarded a degree in directing,[2] in 2007.[3] She went to seminars led by Valery Sivak and Mykhailo Ilyenko.[4][5]

Career edit

Maryna collaborated with Sergei Loznitsa after graduating. International cinema festivals in both Eastern and Western Europe have screened her student films in 2008.[4][6] She has produced a series of short films including "Forgive" (2003), "The Rain" (2007), "The Oath" (2007), and "Family Portrait" (2009).[5] Her short film "Cross-Country" took home the 2011 Palme d'Or at Cannes. Vroda attended the Berlinale Talent Campus in 2010 and the Konrad Wolf Film University of Babelsberg in 2016 to pursue a master's degree. It is her feature debut, "Stepne" (2023).[2][7]

After accepting the Locarno Critics' Prize and Best Director Award, Maryna presented her idea for the film to the Seminci before going in front of the public. According to her, "Stepne" is an emotion that came from the "feeling that she had lost a country," Ukraine, and it is what motivated her to "return home."[8] In November 2023, her film "Stepne" takes home the Best Feature award at Scanorama.[9] At Italy's 35th Trieste International Film Festival, Maryna's film "Stepne" won an award. Her debut movie was recognized by the jury for its moving portrayal of a collapsing nation, which skillfully combined sweetness with sincerity to explore themes of suffering and dashed dreams.[10]

Political positions edit

Maryna declined the Kinoshock film festival award in September 2015 to show her support for Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov, who is imprisoned in Russia.[11] She backed an open letter sent in June 2018 to international leaders by lawmakers, human rights advocates, and cultural leaders urging them to stand up for Sentsov and other political prisoners.[12]

Personal life edit

Maryna presently splits her time between Berlin and Kyiv.[6] Her grandpa, who was incarcerated by the German troops during the Second World War.[13]

Filmography edit

Year Title[2] Genre Notes
2003 Forgive Short Film
2006 Family Portrait Short Film
2007 The Rain Short Film
2007 The Vow[14] Short Film
2011 Cross (Cross-Country) Short Film Director and screenplay[15]
2014 Snails
2015 Penguin
2017 The Oath Short Film
2022 Himmel & Erde - Небо та Земля TV Series
2023 Stepne[4] Feature Film Screenwriter, producer and editor[3]

Awards and recognitions edit

On the Day of Ukrainian Cinema, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree (No.465/2023) naming Maryna as the Honored Artist of Ukraine and bestowing state medals to notable cinema professionals.[16]

Award[3] Year Category Nominated work Result
Cannes Film Festival 2011 Short Films Cross-Country[15] Won
Grimme Award 2023 Fiction Himmel & Erde - Небо та Земля Nominated
Locarno Film Festival 2023 Best Director Stepne[13] Won
Scanorama 2023 Best Feature Stepne[9] Won

Notes edit

  1. ^ Ukrainian: Марина Анатоліївна Врода

References edit

  1. ^ Gazeta.ua (23 May 2011). "Марина Врода перемогла в Каннах". Gazeta.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Maryna Vroda". Locarno Film Festival. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Maryna Vroda". www.crew-united.com. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Maryna Vroda – Stepne". Pop Up Film Residency. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Maryna Vroda | IFFR". iffr.com. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Maryna Vroda". Maryna Vroda | Gorki. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  7. ^ САМУСЕНКО, ЮРІЙ (17 August 2023). "'A CINEMATIC MASTERPIECE': WHAT CRITICS ARE WRITING ABOUT MARYNA VRODA'S 'STEPNE'". donttakefake.com. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  8. ^ Villarreal, Marina (21 October 2023). "Maryna Vroda: "Stepne is a feeling"". SEMINCI. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  9. ^ a b Abbatescianni, Davide (22 November 2023). "Maryna Vroda's Stepne wins Best Feature at Scanorama". Cineuropa. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  10. ^ admin (31 January 2024). "Trieste International Film Festival honors Maryna Vroda's 'Stepne' movie". We Are Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Марина Врода відмовилася від диплома фестивалю "Кіношок" на знак підтримки Олега Сенцова. Її намагалися арештувати". detector.media (in Ukrainian). 21 September 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  12. ^ "An appeal to the representatives of countries who are expected to travel to the World Cup football games in Russia | openDemocracy". web.archive.org. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Ukraine, Pre-Invasion: Maryna Vroda on Stepne". FilmInt.nu. 24 September 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Maryna VRODA: It seems to me that I improve when making films". day.kyiv.ua. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Maryna VRODA". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  16. ^ "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №566/2023". www.president.gov.ua. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2024.