The use of English in cinemas: abandonment of Ukrainian dubbing - Head of the Ministry of Digital Transformation explains Zelensky's initiative

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed a draft law that provides for the gradual abandonment of Ukrainian dubbing during the screening of English-language films in cinemas. Mykhailo Fedorov, Vice Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development and Minister of Digital Transformation, supports this initiative, believing that it will help develop Ukrainian cinema. According to him, this step will attract more investment in the industry and create a new boom in the Ukrainian film industry.

The minister also noted that watching movies in theaters in their original language would help improve English language skills among Ukrainians. He cited the example of many countries where films are shown in English with subtitles. According to his forecasts, dubbing will be done exclusively for streaming platforms.

According to the draft law, by 2025, 50% of foreign films shown in Ukrainian cinemas must be shown in the original language with Ukrainian subtitles. This figure is planned to increase to 75% in 2026, and from 2027, it is planned to completely abandon simultaneous dubbing. However, the percentages may change during the discussion of the draft law in parliament.

Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi also supported the initiative to abandon Ukrainian dubbing. He noted that entertainment content in a foreign language is an effective means of learning a language and can become an incentive for the development of Ukrainian dubbing on streaming platforms. The minister emphasized the importance of learning English as it is the language of science and education, as well as the language of global communication.

In addition, the Minister noted that Ukraine is acquiring a new geopolitical role, and most of its strategic partners speak English. He testified that the development of the English language will not go against the development of the Ukrainian language, as the government's goal is to strengthen everything Ukrainian by entering the global market, and knowledge of English is one of the necessary tools to achieve this goal.

Ukrainian cinema may receive a new impetus from the initiative to abandon Ukrainian dubbing of English-language films in cinemas. This will help attract more investment, expand the audience for Ukrainian films, and raise the prestige of Ukrainian directors and actors. In addition, watching movies in their original language will help Ukrainians improve their English language skills. The draft law proposed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy envisages a gradual increase in the percentage of English-language films in cinemas that are shown in the original language with Ukrainian subtitles. The introduction of this initiative will promote the development of the English language among Ukrainians and support Ukrainian cinema.