From the History of Ukrainian cinema of the Central Rada period (1917–1918)

The relevance of this article. For a long time, the history of national cinematography from the specified period remained largely unexplored. The archives of newspapers and magazines from that era were declassified only after Ukraine declared its independence, which facilitated the creation of objective studies in film history from that period. The proposed topic is relevant both theoretically and practically. Theoretically, it involves investigating lesser-known and even undiscovered aspects of Ukrainian cinema history, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the subject. Practically, it addresses the necessity of applying historical experiences (both positive and negative) to contemporary filmmaking practices. The purpose of the article is to analyze the activities of state authorities, focusing on the theater department and the cinematography department, regarding the development of the national film industry in 1917–1918. The analysis covers the creation of cinematographic infrastructure and film libraries, the organization and implementation of film production, the promotion of film screenings, and the creation of a regulatory and legal framework. The methodology. In the research, we apply principles of objectivity, historicism, and a systematic approach, as well as problem-chronological, historical-comparative, and other research methods to conduct our analysis. The results. This article explores some issues of the development of Ukrainian cinema during the Central Rada period (1917–1919). A new stage in the history of cinema is associated with the active national and cultural revival of Ukraine after the February Revolution of 1917. The tasks of the first state cinema institutions — primarily the theater department of the General Secretariat of Public Education, and later the cinematographic section — involved finding venues for national cinemas, acquiring suitable technical equipment, and assembling a film library focused on educational and scientific content. Alongside these efforts, work was underway to organize and carry out filming and screenings. During this time, lawmaking activities aimed at streamlining the film process began. Although not all plans came to fruition, the activities of these institutions laid the foundation for the subsequent development of national cinema during the Hetmanate era. The scientific novelty consists in corrects the date of the establishment of the cinematographic section and, for the first time, comprehensively analyze the activities of state bodies in the field of cinema. The practical significance. The results of the study can be applied to the preparation of comprehensive papers on the history of Ukrainian cinema and the development of relevant educational courses.