On November 18, 2019, the National Press Club hosted a ceremony of awarding European Quality Label certificates – EFFE Label 2019-2020 to Ukrainian festivals selected by the International Jury of the European Festivals Association (EFA).
The ceremony was organized by the Center for Development of Democracy through Culture – EFA / EFFE Hub in Ukraine, and Souspilnist Foundation.
27 Ukrainian festivals varying in artistic direction, scope and geography, received the award of the EFFE project (Europe supports festivals, festivals support Europe) implemented by the European Festivals Association with the support of the EU.
Among the awarded were:
HoholFEST, Fayne Misto (Ternopil), Constellationfest, Ukrainian Live, Construction, Kyiv Music Fest, The International Monodrama Festival Solo Plays Fest, Joy Fest.Children, Joy Fest, Arts Festival «AMPLUA», Comedy Art Festival «HaShoTiu», pUp.pet, Kinoscript Screenwriters Festival, Kyiv Comic Con, LvivMozArt, Odessa JazzFest, Atlas Weekend, Brukivka International Film Festival, Classics Today, ART-Playback.Together, All Mor, KharkivMusicFest, Jewish Open Space, KINOMEDIA, Sirko’s Beeyard (“Pasika Sirka”), Leopolis Jazz Fest.
The HoholFEST multidisciplinary festival’s director Maxym Demsky spoke about the many years of the festival’s creative path, a relentless desire to move forward, inspire local communities and cultural centers with their experience and energy. His sincere opinion that the festival occupies an important place in his life found a response from all participants, since festivals are an integral part of the life of each of them.
It should be noted that HoholFEST became the EFFE awardee twice: in 2017-2018 and in 2019-2020, i.e. it was among the 24 contenders for a festival “Oscar”. And this year, it has received the highest award of the European Festival Movement – EFFE Award.
During the ceremony, a Dnipro city representative spoke about the city’s program “Cultural Capital” housing such festivals as “Jazz on the Dnieper”, “Book Space”, “DniproPuppetFest”, “Khmary (Clouds)”, Newsgers Festival, as a successful experience of collaboration between the city and festivals.
The highlight of the ceremony was a wonderful theatrical mini-performance by a young Kyiv festival Bez Zayvykh Sliv (Without superfluous words).
Thanks to the EFFE program, a festival platform for exchanging opinions and experiences has been created in Ukraine. And two Ukrainian representatives – HoholFEST and Sicheslav Association of Festivals “ArtEtnoFest” have become members of the European Festivals Association.
