The official opening ceremony of the most anticipated event of the summer, which is to be held in the building of the Odesa Opera and Ballet Theatre, will be hosted by a popular Ukrainian TV-presenter Oleksiy Sukhanov together with a charming Masha Efrosinina.

World cinema stars, Ukrainian celebrities and socialites will walk the 80-meter long red carpet to the music of the famous Odesa jazz band of Roxana Smirnova. Traditionally the first to appear will be the couple of Viktoria and Sergiy Tigipko, they are followed by the OIFF jury members ― German actress Franziska Petri, Georgian film director Nana Djordjadze, outstanding Russian producer Alexander Rodnyansky, Ukrainian author and screenwriter Andrey Kurkov, as well OIFF honored guests ― the cult American director Roger Corman, uncompromising Austrian Ulrich Seidl, an award-winning Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica and special guest of the opening ceremony ― a classic of Polish cinema, the legendary Krzysztof Zanussi. In addition, dozens of cameras will catch the creative team of the film “Eternal Homecoming” ― director Kira Muratova and actors, among which will be Georgiy Deliev and Uta Kilter. OIFF Special programme ― Russian Films Week in Odesa will be represented by the “frontmen” of the Viktor Shamirov new film “The Game of Truth” ― Gosha Kutsenko and Irina Apeksimova. Official figures will also appear on the red carpet of the Odesa Film Festival ― Odesa Region Governor Eduard Matviychuk, the Mayor of Odesa Oleksiy Kostusev, the Head of the Ukrainian Film Agency Kateryna Kopylova and the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Kostyantyn Gryshchenko. National Artist of Ukraine Larisa Kadochnikova, which later will present a retrospective of Sergei Parajanov, will also attend the opening. Among Ukrainian stars are the actress and musician Nadiya Meiher, the most popular bachelor in the country Andrey Iskornev, Dmitry Shurov ('Pianoboy') with his wife, the designer Olga Gromova and many others.

J. C. Chandor's second feature film “All Is Lost” will open the festival. The leading and the only role in the movie was performed by the living legend of American cinema, two-time Oscar-winner Robert Redford. The picture screened out of competition at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, where Robert Redford received a standing ovation. The producer of film Anna Gerb will present the screening of the picture at the festival hall of the Opera House.

During the opening ceremony one of the most famous European art-house film director Emir Kusturica will be awarded the very first “Golden Duke” of the OIFF-2013 ― the Lifetime Achievement. After the official part Kusturica with his The No Smoking Orchestra will give an open concert at the Potemkinskaya Stairs.

The 4th Odesa International Film Festival will be held until 20 July 2013. Traditionally, the main prize ― “The Golden Duke” for the best film of the International Competition ― will be awarded by the audience.