The 78th Cannes Film Festival has traditionally become the epicenter of world cinema. Journalists from Elle magazine spoke with one of its guests, international producer Elvira Patterson-Gavrilova from Ukraine. At the festival, she and her team at Elledgy Media Group presented the science fiction action film Holiguards, starring Kevin Spacey.
The interviewers asked the Ukrainian about her collaboration with the American actor, her impressions of this year’s visit to Cannes, and her other projects.
Filming the movie was Kevin Spacey’s first major project after a seven-year hiatus in his career due to allegations of sexual harassment. Although the court acquitted the actor, the question remained open in the film world: who would dare to give Spacey another chance? Thanks to the Ukrainian producer, the famous actor returned to the screen and made his directorial debut for the first time in 20 years. And he did it with a bang — at the Cannes Film Festival.
According to the producer, the main motive for working with Kevin Spacey was creating a powerful story with a worthy cast. She was not looking for sensationalism but for professionals capable of conveying complex ideas to the audience.
“We had a frank conversation with Kevin. It was not about a comeback but trust in the material and the team. I am grateful that our project became his gateway back to the world of big cinema,” she emphasized.
Despite his reputation issues, Patterson-Gavrilova admits that she saw Spacey first and foremost as a professional and two-time Oscar winner. As a producer, she wanted to give him material in which he could play a role and demonstrate a new inner core. And she succeeded. The audience’s reaction in Cannes was emotional and honest. Spacey even received an award for lifetime achievement. In his speech, the actor hinted that he was ready for a new stage in his career. That stage began with his participation in the Ukrainian team’s project.
For Elvira herself, this project was an ambitious step as a producer and an example of a new quality of Ukrainian film production at the international level.
Her participation in the Cannes Film Festival was a professional milestone and a personal inspiration. She notes that this year’s festival was particularly bold and honest. Most of the films touched on themes of freedom — personal, political, and gender.
“I see this as a mirror of the times — as a mother, producer, and businesswoman who built Elledgy Media Group and other ‘non-female’ companies,” she shares.
Large-scale events such as the Cannes Film Festival are not only about cinema but also about opportunities. According to the Ukrainian producer and businesswoman, it is here that contracts, alliances, and ideas are born, which develop over months and sometimes years. This time, Elvira and her team at Elledgy Media Group reached essential agreements with European funds that were already interested in working with Ukraine.
“I am confident that some of these meetings will develop into high-profile joint projects,” Elvira concludes.
However, Patterson-Gavrilova is not only known as a producer. She is actively working on developing parallel business areas. In particular, she is working on IHAVEN autonomous underground bunker complexes, which combine engineering, architecture, and security philosophy. The idea for such facilities was born long before their implementation — from thoughts about post-apocalyptic worlds in films. However, later — given the pandemic, wars, and environmental crises — these ideas became extremely relevant. IHAVEN is building underground complexes that can function as housing, data centers, or secure storage facilities today. Importantly, this underground housing allows for climate control and ensures silence. And this, according to our interviewee, has a bright future in the context of global instability.
In addition to her current projects, Elvira is actively working on new ones. Among them are a historical film about Europe in the 1940s and a documentary about women’s leadership during the war.
The Ukrainian woman has proven that today, Ukrainians can not only be present at major international venues but also shape their agenda. Kevin Spacey’s return to the big screen is further proof that great stories can begin in Ukraine.
