Maksym Osa adventure mystery thrillerwork-in-progress

Title: «Maksym Osa»

Runtime: 110'Country: UkraineStatus: Work-in-progress (shooting period)

Genre: Adventure mystery thriller

Director: Ivan SautkinProducers: Elena Slyshko, Maxim Asadchiy, Kateryna KopylovaWriter: Ivan Sautkin (based on the graphic novel by Igor Baranko)

Logline: Simple Ukrainian Cossack Maksym Osa is recruited by a Duke to recover a stolen cart of gold and rid his territory of a werewolf. By virtue of his sincerity Maksym exposes a complex conspiracy and proves that greed is pernicious.

Short Description

DirectorIvan Sautkin

Studied graphics at Kiev State Art School, photography at Kiev State Theatre Institute and film directing at Utrecht Art Academy. He directed several award-winning short documentaries and fea-ture TV films. Ivan also directed over 200 commercials, many of them award-winning. His photo and video projects participate in art exhibitions.

Selected filmography:

“The White Ship” (1998, Documentary, 20') — Jury Prize at Ro�erdam; “Against The Sun” (2001, Documentary, 20') — Special Jury Prize at the Clermont-Ferrand;“On The Bridge” (2006, Feature, 95'); “Nesterov's Loop” (2007, Feature, 95')

Producers

Head of Hanzhonkov Studio of Films for Youth.Producer of the number of films, notable for beingthe producer of the first Ukrainian 3D animatedseries "Eskimo Girl" (2013-2014).

One of the key figures in the launching the newwave of Ukrainian cinema, Kateryna served as ahead of State Film Fund for the last 5 years, a�er6 years as an executive producer of Novy TV Channel.

Elena Slyshko HanzhonkovFilm+380673068804, se_adres@rambler.ru

Kateryna KopylovaHead of Ukrainian State Film Agency 2010-2014+380503306373, ziluyko@gmail.com

2015 UGLY, 90', Austria/Ukraine, dir. Yuri Rechinski, in post-productionSNIFFER, 8x52', crime dramathe most watched TV series in Russia; sold to >10 countries

2014 THE GUIDE, 120', historical drama, dir. Oles SaninOfficial Selection for the Best Foreign Film OscarBest Actor, Best Cinematography at Odessa IFFJury Mention at Bari IFF; Selection of Warsaw, Co�bus, Palm Springs

2013 BROTHERS. THE FINAL CONFESSION, 120', dir. V. TrofimenkoBest Actress and Critics Jury Prize at Moscow IFFJury Prize at Baghdad IFF; Best Debut at Romania IFF

2007 THE DEBT, 100', drama/thriller, dir. Assaf BernsteinNominated for 4 Awards of Israeli Film AcademyRUSSIAN TRIANGLE, 121', dir. Aleko TsabadzeSpecial Jury Prize at Moscow IFFIMPORT/EXPORT, 135', dir. Ulrich SeidlGrand Prix «Golden Apricot» at Yerevan IFFNomination for “Golden Palm” at Cannes IFF

Owner of «Pronto Film» since 2004, in 2011 Maxim got Ukrainian national TV award as the «best producer». Member of International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers. Maxim produced over 20 features & TV series, and over 100 shorts & commercials.

Selected Filmography:

Maxim AsadchiyPronto Film

+380674650212, maxim@pronto.kiev.ua

Graphic novel

The film is based on the graphic novel MAKSYM OSA (2008), published in Ukraine, Russia, Poland, France and Belgium. Its author Igor Baranko collaborated with DC Comics, Alexandro Jodorowsky and Ma� Groening.

SynopsisIn the early 17th century, Europe already had a quite civilized and decent appearance. Scientific discoveries had led to a more and more realistic mindset. But there are no rules without exceptions. In the territory of Poland, in particular on its southern border with Wild Fields, sometimes strange and mysterious events happened.

When Maksym Osa, along with his comrade-in-arms Matviy Hvist, a�ended the wedding of Duke Krzyczewski to the beautiful Helena Marenych, he had no idea what such an ordinary Cossack as he would face. But why consider him ordinary? A reputation of being a sorcerer had stuck with him for such a long time he no longer bothered to deny it, rather he even supported it with his own myths and lies. It was not particularly surprising, as among the Cossacks everywhere you turn, every second one is supposedly a sorcerer. But you never know where your lies will lead you...

The Duke’s wedding was a luxuriant and exuberant affair. Our Cossacks congratulated the just-married couple and solemnly presented them with valuable wedding gi�s from the Hetman. But they were not free from their work even there. Duke Krzyczewski tasked them, along with royal messengers who had travelled to the wedding from Warsaw, with a secret mission to transport a chest of gold to the Sich. So without having time to savour the full wedding celebrations, the guys had to rush off.

Their journey was to bring them to the terrible Black Forest and it was in the forest they were ambushed. Maksym lost the gold and his comrades. Matviy disappeared God knows where. Maksym himself nearly died, having to spend the next six months in a monastery to heal his wounds. However with the monks’ efforts and prayers he returned to our world and was soon back on his feet — that’s where everything started. He’d have been be�er not to return...

A�er six months every man craves the warmth of woman and, of course, vodka. So the first place our hero was to visit was a tavern. Toasting his return with a pre�y Barmaid our hero decided to finally introduce himself as Cossack Maksym Osa. The Barmaid was dumbfounded, because she'd never contemplated sharing a bed with a living dead man. Her position can be understood — a tomb at the old Cossack cemetery is clearly inscribed: Cossack Maksym Osa resting in the arms of the Lord in such and such year.

Immediately a�er hearing such news Maksym took a bo�le of vodka and ran to the cemetery. He did find the grave. A�er spending half a night drinking at the grave the grim reaper appeared to him, or so he thought through drunken eyes. It turned out to be the stepson of Duke Krzyczewski, Andriyko, who had been sent to search for Osa. Reunited with Duke Krzyczewski at his estate Maksym would go on to learn incredible things and meet amazing people. One of which was Andriyko — a strange but sincere guy — who honestly serves the duke and longs for his missing twin sister, whose fascination with witchcra� led her to turn into a dog. So now Andriyko is accompanied everywhere by a he�y black Dog, which he calls “Hyvrya.” Later he offers to Maksym a purse of money to help him to talk to Hyvrya's soul suffering in this otherworldly existence.

Matviy himself had not been seen since the night he came to the Duke, suddenly turned into Werewolf, bit Duchess elena and fled into the woods. And in the Black Forest near the castle, the howls of a Werewolf can really be heard at night.

Duchess Helena is very afraid of him. She's afraid of everything — helpless, completely trapped blonde. She was going to marry Polish tycoon, but ended up at the edge of the world with a very different man — a boozing nobleman, who embezzled all his wealth and made a deal with Matviy Hvist: the Duke will turn a blind eye to Kasia running away with Matviy in exchange for a chest of gold. How to live in this cruel world? And then there's this mad dog at the kennels, which bit her hand. Could the glorious Cossack knight agree to defend and take care of a desperate woman?

Then there is Krzyczewski’s daughter, Lady Kasia, who has a passionate affair with Matviy Hvist, and now is certain that Hyvrya bewitched her beloved with a love potion, because she loved him in secret but was as ugly as her brother Andriyko. It was her, instead of Kasia, who fled with Matviy from the castle leaving Andriyko with a dog. But that potion also turned Hvist into a werewolf. And now he whines in the forest for his lost love and the witch Hyvrya has probably died at his bite. So could Mr. Cossack-Sorcerer, please, help return her dear Matviy to her?

Concerning the elderly Duke Krzyczewski, he's head over heels in love with Helena. He is a local humanist and democrat, primarily known for his honesty. A supporter of the ideas of The Enlightenment, he speaks to his black Crow and convinces Maksym, the famous sorcerer and witch hunter, to take up the hunt for the Werewolf Hvist and free their community from this terror. He also calls for the return of the royal chest of gold. It must be somewhere, mustn’t it?

This humanist keeps on his service the Baron Vogel — a teacher of Latin and fencing for Lady Kasia. This baron regularly beats young maidens with whips for the slightest mistake and their screams can be heard throughout the whole castle. But no one cares. Apparently Duke ordered him to bring him the mad dog that bit Duchess Helen into the forest, and to put it in its grave.

The plucky German once messed with Osa and, clutching the sword, promised on occasion to shorten one side of Osa’s mustache. Eventually he made good on this promise of barbering. But if Maksym Osa had also made a promise to cut Vogel’s head "like a pumpkin, bitch" – then it would happen.

And when the honest Cossack has spiritual crises, he seeks advice from father Sylantiy. This unique man likes to portray the barmaid as an Eve, in all her natural beauty. And he sees deeper meaning and philosophical distinction between the concepts of "stolen" and "placed in temptation's way".

And so the Cossack will look for grains of truth in the world of werewolves.

***

The story will end only when at the ashes of the Duke’s castle black raven will extract Osa’s silver bullet from the burned skull of the witch.

Cast

Cast

"Maksym Osa"Oleksandr Pozharsky

Ukraine

Cast

"Duke Zenobi KrzyczewskiJan Janga-Tomaszewski

Poland

Cast

"Duchess ( / Witch ) Helena"Monika Buchowiec

Poland

Cast

"Prokopius Vogel"Eric Colvin

UK

Cast

"Kasia Krzyczewska"Hanna Adamovych

Ukraine

Cast

"Centurion ('Werewolf') Matviy Hvist"Pavlo Chyrva

Ukraine

Cast

"Andriyko Bubon"Mykhailo Fedorchenko

Ukraine

Great job is done on creating props

(90% are ready)

and 300 original costumes.

Current State of the Project

Approximately 1/3 of the film is shot.Rough cut is available per request.

Trailer was released and created a big buzz.At the moment we are preparing

for the next shooting session.

Financial Plan

Financial Partner Sum, USD % Status Ukrainian State Film Agency

2.000.000 50 Received

POSTMODERN* 500.000 12.5 Confirmed Producers (Ukraine)

500.000 12.5 Confirmed

Co-Producer Searching TOTAL: 4.000.000 100

* POSTMODERN — is an award winning post-production company providing film and animationproduction for motion pictures and gamedev companies. With offices in London, Nicosia and Kievit is a part of FILM.UA Group that is the largest group of companies in the industry of motionpictures and TV production in CIS countries. Completed projects for PPI, Warner Brothers,SONY PICTURES, CPI, B&H, Favourite Films, Central Partnership. postmodern.com.ua

500.000

500.000 12.5

12.5 Searching Co-Producer

If you are interested in this project, please, contact:

Maxim Asadchiymaxim@pronto.kiev.ua

+380674650212

Thank you for your a�ention!