Russian film festival gets underway

A festival of Russian films got underway in New Delhi today. Inaugurating the Festival, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said that the time-tested relations between India and Russia, which culminated into a strategic partnership, remain unique in International relations. The participation of delegations from India and Russia in the International Film Festivals at each other’s countries, have gone a long way in boosting our ties in the field of cinematographic cooperation. A Russian Film Festival on such an occasion reminds us of cooperation by way of joint productions such as "Pradesi", "Sohni Mahiwal" and "Richi-Ticki-Tawi". Indians have adored Russian masters of world cinema such as Eisenshtein, Tarkovsky, Bondarchuk, and others and their great classics. This festival will go a long way in further consolidating bilateral friendship between the two countries, the Minister added.

Mr. Vyacheslav I. Trubnikov, Russian ambassador to India, who was the chief guest at the event, in his remarks said that Indo-Russia diplomatic relations began prior to India’s Independence. This festival is a landmark in commemorating the longstanding and time-tested friendship in the fields of cinema, art and culture. He said that Indian Film Industry always has had a considerable presence in the Moscow Film Festival.

‘The Island’ directed by Pavel Lungin was screened as the inaugural film.

Organized jointly by the Directorate of Film Festivals (Ministry of Information & Broadcasting), the Russian Embassy and the Russian Centre of Science and Culture New Delhi to mark 60th anniversary of Indo-Russian Diplomatic relations, the festival will be on till April 9, 2007. The screenings will be held at the India Habitat Centre and Russian Centre of Science and Culture in the evening. Besides, the inaugural film, ‘Lister’ directed by Vladimir Zaykin, ‘You Will not Leave Me’ directed by Alla Surikova, ‘Piter-FM’ directed by Oksana Bychkova, ‘The Mother Wolf of Ves’egonsk’ directed by Nikolai Solovstov and ‘72 Meters’ directed by Vladimir Khotinenko will be screened during the festival.

Source : Press Information Bureau

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