The Governor of Ugra Natalia Komarova held the meeting of the Organizing Committee for the preparation and holding of the 22nd Spirit of Fire International Debut Film Festival.
Opening the meeting, the head of the Organizing Committee reminded that at the previous meeting, the date of the festival was determined. It will be held from March 23 to 26. «There comes the stage of active preparation, determining the time for accepting applications, filling the festival’s children’s and cultural program, educational projects,» Natalia Komarova continued. «The festival is a platform for the development of humanitarian cooperation, this is our role, even a mission. This year, the spheres of interaction in interregional and international cooperation have been expanded. We found new partners and a new tradition was born: the guest country of the festival. The Spirit of Fire Academy was opened».
Pyotr Shepotinnik, film director, TV host, and film critic, speaking online, noted that the works of the 21st festival winners were sensations of many Russian film festivals thanks to the fact that they became famous in Khanty-Mansiysk. «Right now the directors from India, Armenia, and Georgia are ready to apply for our festival,» Pyotr Shepotinnik said.
The scenarist and screenwriter Maria Zvereva, who also participated in the videoconference, suggested to start accepting applications from October 3. «I propose «The Special Language of National Cinematography» as the general theme of the festival and of the round table discussion held by the president of the festival Emir Kusturica,» Maria Zvereva noted. «In 2024, Sergey Solovyov, the initiator of the festival and its President until 2021, would have turned 80 years old. We will show the first works of his students.»
Emir Kusturica, President of the Festival, confirmed his intention to come to the festival in Khanty-Mansiysk in his video message to the participants of the meeting.
«This has become a breakthrough innovation of the festival movement in the country,» said Elena Marinina, Deputy CEO of the Roscongress Foundation. The Spirit of Fire Academy has become a strategic partner at the St. Petersburg International and Eastern Economic Forums, the Russia—Africa Summit, and the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum.»
The Organizing Committee decided to prepare a communication map and a business programme for the upcoming festival by December 1.
Gazprom Neft has been the general partner of Spirit of Fire since 2007. Along with support for the film festival, the company annually participates in developing the cultural programme and awards the best Russian film in the special nomination «For the Preservation of Cultural Traditions».
