THE Electric Picture House in Wotton under Edge is joining forces with cinemas across the UK to screen a new film in support of the Ukraine.

Over 100 cinemas nationwide will be screening Olga (15), a new film about a young female Ukrainian gymnast forced to train in exile.

The Wotton screening is taking place on Sunday, March 27 at 7.30pm.

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 Anastasiia Budiashkina is a former member of Ukraine’s national gymnastics team.

Olga is the directorial debut of Elie Grappe and held its world premiere in international critics’ week at the Cannes Film Festival 2021 where it won the SACD Award. The film received its UK Premiere as part of the Glasgow Film Festival this month.

Tickets can be purchased at www.wottoncinema.com, or by calling 01453 844601.

Olga's lead actress, Anastasia Budiashkina, has now reached Poland after leaving Kharkiv in Ukraine to escape the war.

She said: "I am very glad that Olga will be seen in the UK, and people will see the situation going on with Ukraine."

Pat Kelman, Director of 606 Distribution, said: “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 audiences in a meaningful way."

Jason Wood, director of public programmes at the British Film Institute (BFI) said: “We are all witnessing a horrifying situation unfold, but film has the power to unite people and inspire empathy across cultures.

"I’m really proud that the UK’s film exhibition and distribution community and colleagues across the BFI have come together to bring Olga to as many UK cinemas – and audiences – as possible, giving us a perspective on Ukrainian life, telling a Ukrainian story and actively supporting the people of Ukraine through this special film.”