Statement from the Dovzhenko Center
The State Film Agency of Ukraine issued an order to reorganize the Dovzhenko Center. This order, de facto, entails the liquidation of the National Film Archive, which since 1994 has been consistently engaged in the preservation, research, and popularization of Ukrainian cinema. According to the order, all films from the collection and property of the Dovzhenko Center must be transferred to the State Institution Scientific Center of Cinematography of Ukraine, whose main activity, according to the Ukrainian state registry legal entity identifier, is higher education.
The State Enterprise Ukrainian Animation Studio will be separated from the structure of the Dovzhenko Center. Copyrights for Ukrainian animation films, currently owned by the Center, will be transferred to the newly created enterprise. Employees of the Dovzhenko Center will be notified of possible dismissal.
Thus, the State Film Agency delegates responsibility for the unique cinematographic heritage of Ukraine to a de facto “sleeping” institution that has not carried out any activity since its foundation in 2011 during Yanukovych’s time, and has no appropriate staff, relevant competencies, website, etc.
The reorganization document did not mention the Dovzhenko Center’s paper archive and museum collections, which are part of the state archive and museum funds of Ukraine, respectively, and are subject to separate legislation.
The State Film Agency decided to divide the integral collection of the Dovzhenko Center, which dates back to the 1960s, between different structures, without taking into account the proposals of the Dovzhenko Center regarding further activities and without a strategic plan for its development, as required by the order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 91 of 26.01.2022.
Neither in the preamble of the order, nor in their public communication, does the State Film Agency explain this decision.
Read the full statement here.
