Second festival will offer film market and pitching forum.

Polish actor Jerzy Stuhr (Love Stories, Big Animal), current head of the Krakow Film School, will head the jury of the second Odessa International Film Festival (July 15-23).

The festival will feature Ukraine’s only film market, a pitching forum, a series of discussions and workshops and a number of open air screenings

The festival, whose international competition selection comprises features with a ‘conceptual sense of humour’, awards $50,000 in prize money.

John Malkovich, Mark Travis, Nikita Mikhalkov are among the expected guests, according to festival organisers. Remaining jurors and invitees will be announced in mid-June.

Festival organisers are expecting a 50% increase in attendance this year, from 40,000 to 60,000.

The festival will make an industry presentation during the Cannes Film Festival on May 16 at 4pm in the Ukrainian pavilion.

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