"Hoverla" Ukrainian American Film Festival

From October 7 through November 6, 2011, The Ukrainian Community of Western Pennsylvania held its 1st annual “HOVERLA” Ukrainian American Film Festival named after the highest mountain in Ukraine. This multi-weekend event was fabulous and we thank you all - whether you attended, sponsored, volunteered, donated to, or collaborated with us to make this Film Festival such a success!!!

The objective of the “Hoverla” Ukrainian American Film Festival is to showcase quality cinema that brings to the big screen themes with Ukrainian content to help promote cultural recognition of Ukraine through the powerful medium of film and shape the image of Ukraine. In addition, our aim is to use film as a medium to help people understand who Ukrainians are, where we are from, what life is like for others around the globe, and how all of this relates to our contemporary lives and choices.

We showcased seven films from around the world with Ukrainian content as well as American independent films that deal with themes of Ukrainian history, culture and heritage, or are of particular interest to the Ukrainian community. None of those films were previously screened in the Pittsburgh area; thus, we brought powerful and important work to Pittsburgh that otherwise was not available for viewing here. This was the first event of its kind in the Pittsburgh region.

Through features, documentaries, performances by local artists and conversations with visiting film maker Roxy Toporowych from New York and presenting partners from local universities, the Festival explored Ukrainian as well as Ukrainian American identity, the current Ukrainian experience and the richness of Ukrainian culture in relation to a diverse modern world.