Charity Preview Screenings of Olga in Support of Ukraine at Irish Cinemas

March 22, 2022

Cinemas across Ireland, including 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.

The preview screenings will be taking place in Irish cinemas and venues nationwide, including ODEON, VUE, Cineworld, Gate Cinemas, ARC Cinemas, Triskel, IFI and access CINEMA sites, from Wednesday 23^rd March, with more cinemas joining the initiative each day.

Scroll down for full listings.

From each ticket sold, cinemas will make donations to charities supporting Ukraine.

The previews are a result of a partnership with UK distributor 606 Distribution and the British FiIm Institute.

Dir: Elie Grappe | France, Switzerland, Ukraine | 2021 | 85 minutes | Cert 15A

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.

Olga is the directorial debut of Elie Grappe. The film premiered at Critics’ Week at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the SACD Award.

The film received its Irish Premiere as part of the recent Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival.

Olga Trailer:

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:

(If you would like to organise a charity screening of Olga, please contact access>CINEMA on info@accesscinema.ie)

Wednesday March 23^rd:

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 26^th: