Backed by 606 Distribution and the BFI Cinemas will donate profits to charities supporting Ukraine
Cinemas across Ireland including Odeon, Vue, Gate Cinemas, Triskel, IFI and access CINEMA sites have united in support of Ukraine with a series of preview charity screenings of Olga, a new film about a young female Ukrainian gymnast forced to train in exile.
From each ticket sold, cinemas will make donations to charities supporting Ukraine. The previews are a result of a partnership with 606 Distribution and the BFI.
The preview screenings will be taking place in Irish cinemas and venues nationwide from Wednesday 23rd March, with more cinemas joining the initiative each day.
Olga is the directorial debut of Elie Grappe and held its World Premiere in International Critics’ Week at the Cannes Film Festival 2021 where it won the SACD Award. The film received its Irish Premiere as part of the recent Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival.
Set in 2013, Olga tells the story of a 15-year-old Ukrainian gymnast, training for the European Championship in preparation for the Olympics, who is forced to move to Switzerland from her home in Kyiv where her mother works as an investigative journalist reporting on the Euromaidan protests. Lead actress Anastasia Budiashkina is a former member of Ukraine’s national gymnastics team.
Lead actress of Olga, Anastasia Budiashkina, arrived in Poland on Monday, March 7th after leaving Kharkiv in Ukraine to escape the war. She says: “I am very glad that Olga will be seen in the UK & Ireland, and people will see the situation going on with Ukraine. Everyone involved with Olga worked very hard, and I put a part of myself into the film. I hope everyone will enjoy Olga.”
Pat Kelman, Director of 606 Distribution, says: “I planned to release Olga in the late Spring, but the invasion of Ukraine made me very nervous about releasing the film at all. When Watershed Cinema Curator Mark Cosgrove mentioned that venues were looking for a way to show support for Ukrainians, I realised that this very human and dramatic film set against the Ukraine 2013 Maidan Revolution could now resonate and connect with UK & Irish audiences in a meaningful way.”
He continued “I am overwhelmed by the massive support the film distribution and exhibition community are showing for this project, and I hope we see full houses across Ireland in support of Ukraine and Ukrainians.”
Olga is produced by Point Prod, Cinema Defacto and Pulsar Content, with the support of Swiss Film.
Olga Charity Screenings in Ireland:
Wednesday March 23rd:
ODEON Blanchardstown, Blanchardstown Road South, Dublin 15
ODEON Charlestown, Margaret’s Road, Dublin 11
ODEON Coolock, 84 Malahide Road, Northside, Coolock
ODEON Limerick. Crescent Shopping Centre, Limerick
ODEON Point Square, Point Village, Dublin 1
ODEON Stillorgan, Stillorgan Plaza, Lower Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan
ODEON Waterford, Railway Square Development, Poleberry Link Road, Waterford
Saturday March 26th:
Irish Film Institute, 6 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
VUE, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
Sunday March 27th:
Cineworld Dublin, Parnell Centre, Parnell Street, Dublin 1
Triskel Arts Centre, Tobin Street, Cork City
VUE, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
Tuesday March 29th:
VUE, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
Wednesday March 30th:
ARC Cinema Drogheda, West Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth
ARC Cinema Navan, Navan Shopping Centre, Kennedy Road, Navan, Co. Meath
ARC Cinema Wexford, Redmond Square, Wexford Town, Co. Wexford
Empire Movieplex, 36 Parnell Street, Clonroad Beg, Ennis, Co. Clare
VUE, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
Thursday March 31st:
The Gate Mallow, Market Square, Mallow, Co. Cork
The Gate Midleton, Market Green, Midleton, Co. Cork
The Gate Multiplex, North Main Street, Cork City
Friday April 1st:
Dunamaise Arts Centre, Church Street, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
Saturday April 2nd:
Clones Film Club, The Courthouse, McCurtain Street, Clones, Co. Monaghan
Kenmare Film Club. Carnegie Arts Centre, Kenmare, Co. Kerry
Wednesday April 6th:
Riverbank Arts Centre, Main Street, Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Thursday April 7th:
The Dock, St. Georges Terrace, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim
Mermaid Arts Centre, Main Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow
