Ukrainian author Andriy Kurkov has announced that his novel ‘Picnic on Ice’ will be adapted into a feature film, with Bulgarian actress Maria Bakalova set to play the lead role of Nina. The announcement was made via Kurkov’s Facebook page.
Bakalova, who gained international recognition and an Oscar nomination for her role in ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’ in 2021, will portray the central character in this adaptation. Israeli director Ari Folman will helm the project, which is being developed in collaboration with the production studio Anonymous Content and the independent company BTF (Bildundtonfabrik), according to Variety.
In a previous interview with The Times of Israel in 2022, Folman expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “I have loved this book for a long time and have fought for the rights to adapt it. I am very happy and excited about this. However, making a film is an incredibly stressful endeavor. Every time you start, it feels like you are beginning from scratch.”
Pre-production for the film is supported by the German fund Film und Medianienstiftung NRW and is being co-produced with JMAG:productions based in Basel, Switzerland.
‘Picnic on Ice’, published in 2017 by Folio, has sold over 150,000 copies in Ukraine and has been translated into five languages. The novel follows journalist Viktor Zolotaryov, who receives an unusual assignment from a leading newspaper: to write obituaries for influential individuals who are still alive. As he delves deeper into this task, he finds himself entangled in a complex web of shadowy structures.
Ari Folman is an acclaimed Israeli director known for his animated film ‘Waltz with Bashir,’ released in 2008, which garnered an Oscar nomination and several international awards. The film recounts Folman’s personal experiences during his service in the Israel Defense Forces during the 1982 Lebanon War.
About Andriy Kurkov
Andriy Kurkov is a Ukrainian writer, journalist, and screenwriter, and a member of PEN Ukraine. He has authored more than 20 books, including both adult novels and children’s stories. Kurkov has also written over 20 scripts for feature and documentary films, with his works translated into 36 languages.
His novel ‘Gray Bees,’ published in 2018, was adapted into a film of the same name. The book received the National Book Critics Circle Award in the United States and was recognized as an Editors’ Choice in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year awards. The film adaptation is set to be released in Ukrainian cinemas on October 23, 2025.
In 2023, Kurkov participated in a discussion at the International Festival of Authors in Toronto, alongside Russian-American writers including Masha Gessen. The panel featured Canadian author Margaret Atwood and was moderated by Nahla Ahed from CBC Radio IDEAS.
Responding to criticism regarding his participation, Kurkov emphasized the importance of ensuring a Ukrainian voice is present at international events, particularly in discussions surrounding Russian aggression.
In 2024, Kurkov was again longlisted for the International Booker Prize with his novel ‘Samson and Nadia’ (The Silver Bone), although he did not make the shortlist. His book ‘Diary of the Invasion’ was also listed among the best books published in Brazil in the first half of 2025.
Andriy Kurkov's novel 'Picnic on Ice' will be adapted into a film featuring Maria Bakalova in the lead role, directed by Ari Folman. The project is supported by international production companies and highlights Kurkov's significant literary contributions.