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JULIA BLUE

JULIA BLUE

Year of release: 2020

USA/Ukraine:  86min.

SCREENINGS & AWARDS

**Winner - Best Director

 Sonoma International Film Festival 2019

Woodstock Film Festival 2018

**Winner - Best Director World Cinema 2018

Anchorage International Film Festival 2018

**Winner - Best Feature Film Award

Seattle International Film Festival 2018

Cleveland International Film Festival 2018

Phoenix International Film Festival 2018

Berkshire International Film Festival 2018

RECOGNITION

*Fulbright Scholar Award Ukraine 2014-2015

*IFP Narrative Labs 2016 

Award-winner deep euphoria Calvin Klein Spotlight on Women Filmmakers ‘Live the Dream’ Grant for Emerging Female Director - 2016

*Seattle International Film Festival - WIP Forum 2017

*Rooftop Films - Work-In-Progress 2017

SYNOPSIS

Julia, a bright university student, is preparing for a life abroad when an unexpected romance sparks between her and English, a damaged soldier returning from the war zone in eastern Ukraine.  

 

From metropolitan Kyiv to a remote Carpathian village, Julia and English must decide if they are ready to build a future together in a homeland that is slowly being torn apart. 

JULIA BLUE - Cinema as Activism

In March, 2022, Julia Blue was named one of the top ten films about Ukraine by the The Guardian.  Roxy then spearheaded activating the film as a tool to raise funds for various organizations and give direct aid to cast and crew living in Ukraine.  

 

Over $50,000 was raised between March 2022 and March 2023.  Organizations which benefited from the screenings include:  Revived Soldiers Ukraine, Nova Ukraine, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Razom for Ukraine, Ukrainian National Women's League, University of Michigan - War Crimes Project, and more.

The film is part of the Ukrainian Embassy Kyiv's cultural awareness program and has been translated into Spanish to be shown in countries across Central and South America.

Julia Blue is available to stream on Amazon US & UK.

 

 

 

A modern feminist perspective, meanwhile, emerges in the lively Julia Blue, in which director Roxy Toporowych tells a Kyiv romance through the prism of post-revolutionary PTSD.

-The Guardian, Streaming the Best Ukrainian Films Past and Present, 2022

A beautiful allegory for the freedoms of our modern world that seem all too fleeting, Julia Blue reminds us not just of the costs of love and war, but of the sometimes painful choices freedom demands.

-Seattle International Film Festival 2018

The sophistication of her craft in every way is remarkable for her first film. Her film humanizes a world historical event by dwelling not on the movers and shakers of history, but rather on how world events invade and shape the life of of one remarkable young woman while bringing awareness to the war in Ukraine. We hope and expect we will see many more accomplished films from Best Director, Roxy Toporowych.

-Thelma Adams, Film Critic and Juror 

Woodstock Film Festival 2018

Ayr Film Society, Scotland, February 2020​

Bethel College, Kansas

Guest Lecturer and Screening, March 2019

APRIL 3

StoryScreen Beacon, NY

100% of proceeds went to 

UCCA Humanitarian Relief Fund

$1,000 sent to UCCA Fund

APRIL 14

Jersey City Theatre Center

LINK TO TICKETS $25

Q&A to follow immediately after.

$150 sent to Ukrainian Jersey City

APRIL 14- APRIL 27

Klassiki International, UK

Two-week focus on Ukraine streaming

APRIL 24

Bryan College, TN

*FREE*

Screening for college journalists and community

6:00pm

APRIL 28

CAMBRIA FILM FESTIVAL

Thursday, April 28, 2022 6:30 PM PDT
Cambria Center for the Arts Theatre, director Q&A to follow

*CLICK FOR DETAILS*

Donations to NOVA UKRAINE 

*UPDATE $2400 SENT TO NOVA UKRAINE

 

 

 

MAY 13

VANCOUVER

Comax Valley Film Festival, BC

8:30pm

 COBBLESTONE FREEWAY

Tickets

MAY 21

Berkshires International

Film Festival

Great Barrington, MA

11:00am followed by Q&A

Tickets

*UPDATE $1000 SENT TO

REVIVED SOLDIERS

MAY 29

TORONTO, ON

in partnership with UCU

Revue Cinema Screening

with in person Director Q&A!

Tickets $25

$30 at the door.

Tickets

 

*UPDATE $2767.93 SENT TO UCU HELPS UKRAINE

 

JUNE 9

Ukrainian Institute of America

New York City

*UPDATE $2000 sent to

UNWLA 

 

 

OCTOBER 15th

Ukrainian Consulate MEXICO

Ukrainian COSTA RICA days

*FREE with Spanish Subtitles 

 

NOVEMBER 6th

ANN ARBOR, MI

Ann Arbor Polish Film Festival

*$750 raised

Donated to University of Michigan War Crimes project.

NOVEMBER 17

Washington, DC

VITAL VOICES

*TBD MONIES RAISED

Tickets:https://juliabluescreening.splashthat.com/

 

 

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