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    • NTC Award Ceremony
      New Talent Competition gives young filmmakers from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe the opportunity to present their outstanding debut or second film to the public. Join us on Sunday 1 December at 19h
    • Music at ENFF
      The Eastern Neighbours Film Festival welcomes special musical guests each year to enrich our program. For this 16th edition, we’re thrilled to present two talented young musicians: guitarist Antonio Peršak (CR) and violinist İdil Yunkuş (TR). Together, they will perform a traditional Balkan dance and folk song, highlighting the beauty of this music through the… Read more: Music at ENFF
    • Masterclass with Janez Burger
      This masterclass presents a unique opportunity to explore Burger's distinct storytelling style, genre use, and exploration of contemporary social issues. Join us on Saturday 30 November at 17h - Room 5
    • Panel Discussion: Exploration of individual and collective memory in cinema
      Panel Discussion: Exploration of individual and collective memory in cinema on Friday 29 November at 18h

ENFF On Tour in Utrecht: The Winter Garden’s Tale

Sunday 3 November | 16:30 hours | Metaal Kathedraal | Rijksstraatweg 20, 3545 NA Utrecht

The new edition of ENFF On Tour in Utrecht brings the Dutch Premiere of The Winter Garden’s Tale by Simon Mozgovyi. A powerful documentary on the destiny of a floriculture pavilion and its long-time employee Valentyna, who dedicated her life to her work. This film about nature competing with human’s bureaucracy, will be screened in collaboration with Filmtheater ’T Hoogt in Utrecht’s Metaal Kathedraal. Our special guest, the director Simon Mozgovyi will be present at the screening!

Synopsis

The Floriculture Pavilion, one of the last soviet symbols, is about to end its existence. Its fate is decided when the elderly employee Valentyna Voronina is asked to retire. But Voronina does not agree with that. She thinks that all the plants will die without her, after investing her whole life into them. Meanwhile, a group of mysterious radioesthesists find a channel of positive energy right in front of the entrance of pavilion… The Winter Garden’s Tale is a vivid testimony of changing epochs process and human unwillingness to change. “The super-task is to show how palm trees and ficuses feel everything that happens with them and in general, what is the most important: people or plants. It is tragicomic film about life: not easy, but still life, with a bit of self-irony and allegory to routine”, points out Ukrainian director who meticulously filmed this exquisite place throughout the seasons.

Director’s Bio

Semen Mozgovyi is a director and an actor. Started as an actor in the Stel children and youth theater. In 2009 he began his studies at the Kharkiv State Academy of Culture at the department of film and television directing and graduated in 2013. He studied also dramaturgy at the Inter TV channel’s school. Since 2013 he works at the Dakh Theater. He works as a freelance director. Selected filmography: Semolina (2012), Vladimir Mayakovsky: And After All (2012).

Festivals & Awards (selection)

DOK Leipzig, 2018 | Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival, 2018 | IDFA, 2018 – Docs for sale | Docudays UA, 2019 | Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, USA 2019

Original title: Istoriya zymovoho sadu Country: Ukraine, Czech Republic Year: 2018 Length: 75 min Director/Screenwriter: Simon Mozgovyi Cinematography: Denys Melnyk Editing: Mykola Bazarkin, Simon Mozgovyi Sound: Natalya Avramenko, Andrii Nidzelskyi, Michal Pajdiak Music: Roman Grigoriv, Illya Razumeyko, Zhanna Marchinska, Stepan Bebykh, Roman Grygoriv Production: Alex Chepiga, Artem Koliubaiev, Taras Bosak – Mainstream Pictures LLC