The discussion participants found that the key to successful cooperation is similar cultural values and the desire to meet each other halfway.
As part of the business program of the XXII International Film Debut Festival “Spirit of Fire”, a plenary session “Connecting Bridges. Intercultural dialogue and new BRICS+ partnerships.” The moderator was the editor-in-chief of Kino-teatr.ru Zhan Prosyanov.
The event began with words of support for the Russian people and an expression of grief for those killed in the terrorist attack on March 22 at Crocus City Hall. We then moved on to discuss issues of strengthening multilateral partnerships in the film industry, which will become a promising area of cooperation between the BRICS countries, support the development of intercultural communication and open up new opportunities for cinematic art and cultural exchange.
Those present noted the importance of historical and cultural heritage and identity as a competitive advantage for the cinema of the BRICS countries, emphasizing that creative industries are becoming an important factor in the growth of national economies.
“Our festival is deeply integrated into the world film agenda, but we consciously choose as our competence the promotion of cultural and historical values, the creative heritage of the countries that take part in the festival,” said Natalya Komarova, governor of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Ugra. “All conditions have been created to support joint projects with the BRICS countries.”
Komarova spoke at once about several projects that are being worked on. The film under the working title “Snow Flower”, shot jointly with Indian filmmakers in Ugra, is almost completed. The plans include the project “Pearls”, which will be filmed in Moscow, Mumbai and Khanty-Mansiysk. “This story fits especially well with the theme of this year, the theme of family,” said Ekaterina Filippova, general producer of the film company Pan-Atlantic Studio, member of the European Film Academy EFA, member of the European Association of Producers ACE.
Representatives of India thanked the festival organizers. “Viewers in our countries are interested in content that will resonate with the cultural code of each audience. It is projects based on the values common to our cultures that will be successful in a variety of formats, be it remakes of classic films, adaptations or co-productions. I would like to emphasize that Indian audiences show great interest in Russian animation, and Indian cinema is known and loved in Russia. These formats will develop successfully within the framework of film cooperation between our countries. India and Russia are very large markets that require the development of appropriate content,” said Deepti Chawla, head of distribution and marketing at the National Film Development Corporation of India.
Natalya Komarova also places special hopes on cooperation with Iran. Guests from Iran confirmed that cinematography is one of the main areas of cultural cooperation with Russia. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran Kazem Jalali spoke about this in a video message. The head of the cultural representative office at the Iranian Embassy in the Russian Federation, Masoud Ahmadvand, added that Russia and Iran “have many commonalities, both historical and cultural, which contributes to the creation of joint films and co-production. The Russian side has prepared an intergovernmental agreement on the creation of joint production, which will open the way for filmmakers from our countries to jointly produce films.”
The importance of such projects was confirmed by Dmitry Davidenko, Director of the Department of Cinematography and Digital Development of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. “Co-production projects with colleagues from the BRICS countries are our priority,” he said and added that the film festival site is the most productive place to find partnerships.
As part of international cooperation, Soyuzmultfilm also focuses on the BRICS countries. “We met with colleagues in China and the Middle East. I am confident that this direction will develop effectively,” said Chairman of the Board of the Soyuzmultfilm Film Studio, General Director of the Gorky Film Studio, Chairman of the Board of the Animated Film Association Yuliana Slashcheva. “We really want to find partners in large animation markets, and the closeness of tradition and values that are shared and welcomed by viewers of the BRICS countries sets us apart from our Western colleagues.”
Roskino General Director Elsa Antonova said that promoting national films is an important goal of the organization. “We are increasing cooperation, inviting the largest representatives of the film industry of South Africa, China, India to Russia, showing the beauty of our country, so that our partners make decisions about filming on the territory of the Russian Federation.”
General Director of Central Partnership Vadim Vereshchagin noted that over the past two years, domestic cinema, previously in the shadow of Hollywood, has shown rapid and successful growth. “But the national market has limitations. For our cinema to become even better, we need international distribution in the market of countries where the viewer is close to us in mentality,” he said.
The founder of Abu Dhabi Art Hub, Ahmed Saleh Alafey, spoke about the project to create visual arts schools in collaboration with 85 countries. “We bring together more than 6000 participants in various creative projects in various combinations, in different art schools. I see potential in the development of joint projects with the Khanty-Mansiysk Okrug - Ugra in cinematography and graphic design. We can discover a lot of new talent,” he said.
Ethiopian director Tessema Henok Ayele (filmmakers also want to talk about their country, but face distribution problems) and a guest from Senegal, General Director of the National Theater Company of Daniel Sorano Ousmane Barro Dione, announced their desire to cooperate.
The XXII International Film Debut Festival “Spirit of Fire” is included in the Plan for Russia’s Chairmanship of the BRICS Association in 2024. “The special language of the national cinema of the BRICS countries” is its main theme.
