Cinematic Odesa

Historically, Odesa is known as the city where cinema was born. It is home to one of the oldest film studios — Odesa Film Studio, which celebrated its 105th anniversary in 2024.

Every year, dozens of films of various genres and formats are shot in Odesa, many of which have rightfully become part of the world’s cinematic heritage. The city’s cinematic fame extends far beyond Ukraine. Unique natural locations, distinctive architecture, well-developed infrastructure for welcoming and accommodating guests, as well as the multiculturalism and tolerance of its residents, make Odesa a comfortable year-round filming location chosen by both Ukrainian and international directors and producers.

A large number of city events and initiatives are aimed at supporting, developing and promoting the art of cinema. Among the most notable is the annual Odesa International Film Festival. In addition, the city supports the organisation of events dedicated to contemporary cinema.

Since 2019, with the support of the Odesa City Council, the Franco-Ukrainian young cinema festival «MOST» has been held annually. The festival introduces audiences to the work of talented young Ukrainian and French filmmakers and helps discover new names in cinema.

In 2019, under the patronage of Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov, the Odesa Film Office was established. It operates as a film commission whose main task is to provide maximum assistance to film crews during productions in the city.

Odesa Film Studio

Loved by audiences in many parts of our country as well as far beyond its borders, Odesa Film Studio has produced a large number of popular films throughout its long history, many of which have long been rightfully regarded as true masterpieces of cinema.

Over the years of the studio’s work, more than 1,500 sets were built for such films as: «Spring on Zarechnaya Street», «The Prisoner of Château d’If», «D’Artagnan and the Three Musketeers», «The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed», «In Search of Captain Grant», «The Tuner», «The Adventures of the Elektronika», «Take Care of the Women», «Daniel — Prince of Galicia», «Ten Little Indians», «The Green Van», «The Trust That Burst», «Archimedes», «The Art of Living in Odesa», «Striped Trip» and others.

Battleship "POTEMKIN"

Sergei Eisenstein’s legendary film, which became part of the history of world cinema and brought Odesa international fame. Silent, yet highly expressive even without words. The film has repeatedly been recognised as the best or one of the best films in world cinema in polls of film critics. The film’s most famous scene is the depiction of the demonstration on the Potemkin Stairs and the baby carriage rolling down the steps…

Transporter 3

A Hollywood action film starring Jason Statham, almost half of which was filmed on the streets of Odesa. Luc Besson’s film crew spent a week in the city in May 2008 and filmed at 28 locations. In the story, the protagonist delivers a girl from Marseille to Odesa, while the final chase scene takes place in the Port of Odesa. An interesting fact: in several scenes, Odesa also played the role of Budapest — these shots were filmed in Moldavanka.

The Legend of 1900

Several scenes from Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore’s epic film «The Legend of 1900» were filmed in Odesa. The film tells the story of a brilliant musician who spent his entire life aboard a ship and made audiences empathise with his extraordinary fate.

Ennio Morricone’s beautiful score for the film, for which the composer received a Golden Globe Award in 2000, conveyed the full range of emotions of this remarkable story about a virtuoso pianist. The port became the main Odesa filming location for the movie. The military harbour and the Potemkin Stairs were also featured in the film. Odesa has served as a filming location for more than a thousand films, but this particular film still holds a special place in the cinematic heritage of our city.