The ceremony of opening of the XI Festival of Kazan began with a traditional stellar track
Kazan Film Festival, which was originally designed to encourage development of Tatarstan film successfully copes with this task. Such an opinion has been concluded at the press conference dedicated to the opening of the XI Kazan International Muslim Film Festival. Briefing at the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan Guzel Nigmatullina, chairman of the jury, People's Artist of Russia, winner of the "Oscar" Vladimir Menshov and special guests of the Film Forum - Polish director Krzysztof Zanussi, theater and cinema, People's Artists of Russia Alexander Mikhailov and Boris Klyuyev.
"We remember the time when Tatarstan movies did not exist at the festival. Last three years a positive trend has appeared: at first four, then six films from Tatarstan participated in the film festival. This year's competition program - 7 films, and they are presented in each category, "- said Guzel Nigmatullina. We remind just in 2015 33 applications have arrived from Tatartsan.
Chairman of the jury People's Artist of Russia, film director, screenwriter and producer Vladimir Menshov admitted that he has started watching movies recently, so he is not yet ready to express his opinion about the competition. However, "the Oscar-winning" director praised organization of the festival and complimented Kazan, calling it "prettier and European-clean." "It is a pity that I admire, apparently, only from the window of the hotel. Since the work to be huge, and as chairman of the jury, I would like to hope that our team will confirm the brand of the festival. And, perhaps, and help to open new films ", - Vladimir Menshov said.
Honorary guest of the festival Krzysztof Zanussi admitted that yesterday was in Yakutia, today - in Warsaw, wherefrom arrived in Kazan. "At my age, such travel is not recommended by doctor, but I could not miss the Kazan Muslim Film Festival, - the director said with a smile. - I am interested in Tatarstan, and Muslim cinema. I close to all manifestations of the art spiritual space, more in-depth view of life, where there is a mystery, "- the director said.
Boris Klyuyev said that he is following the Kazan film festival for many years: as it grows and develops. "We all know how hard it is to hold festivals in terms of finances and organization. We must pay tribute to the festival is live and, apparently, will go developing further. There are no cultural boundaries, we have a deep respect for what is happening in the world. Confession does not matter, there universal values, such as love, loyalty, honesty. They are the same for all religions. I'll try to see as many films as possible, "- said the actor.
Guzel Nigmatullina stressed that the festival has long been one of the most anticipated cultural events in Kazan, but interest in it is growing in the world of professional film community. "Kazan was the entry point to the Russian cinema for Asia and Africa. Thanks to the festival we had the opportunity to see the works by filmmakers from Bahrain, Libya, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Japan, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates, "- Guzel Nigmatullina said.
In conclusion, Deputy Minister of Culture of Tatarstan noted that the motto of the festival "through the dialogue of cultures to a culture of dialogue" brings together more people. "The Republic is a historical territory of good neighborhood of Islam with other religions, living together of people of different nationalities and cultures. Muslim Film Festival for us is another opportunity to show the world a positive experience to show how Islam is progressing in a contemporary cultural space of Tatarstan and Russia as a whole ", - Guzel Nigmatullina said.