27 June 2003

Subject: Recommendation of Oleg Spornikov

To Whom It May Concern,

Oleg Spornikov was an integral part of a project coordinated by the European Institute for the Media and financed by the European Commission in 2000 to make documentary films to promote civil society development in Ukraine. The initial part of the project was organised as a competition in order to select the best proposals from among a wide variety of Ukrainian documentary producers - Oleg Spornikov was one of two candidates selected by the team of experts from many applicants.

The project involved traveling to the Netherlands and Germany and covering the issue of juvenile detention and the role of civil society organisations in helping to rehabilitate and support young people in trouble. Spornikov produced two programmes on the basis of the film he and his team shot in Europe. On his own initiative and at his own expense he traveled to juvenile detention centres in Ukraine in order to show the films he made in Europe and to examine and film the reactions of staff and inmates in the Ukrainian context. The programmes he made were aired on Ukrainian central and regional channels. He also wrote and published articles in major Ukrainian newspapers to raise greater awareness of the problems associated with this issue and share his experiences with a wider public.

Oleg brings great enthusiasm to the projects he undertakes as well as a consummate professionalism. It was a great pleasure to work with him and I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending him as a reliable, imaginative and hardworking individual. For any further particulars, please contact me at gmcc@eim.org or telephone +49-211-9010458.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Gillian McCormack
Head of CIS Projects
Media and Democracy Programme
European Institute for the Media