On the 1st of March, in the run-up to the “Spirit of Fire” festival, a session “Film festivals and their influence on the cultural environment and regional development” was held at the exhibition-forum “Russia”.
The event took place as a part of the business program of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Ugra. Experts discussed the role of the festivals in the exchange of creative ideas and in creating a cultural environment, as well as the role of the State and business in supporting young talents and the influence of the film festivals on the development of the creative sector of the regional economy.
Vice-president of the “Spirit of Fire” festival Maria Zvereva recalled the history of its creation: “Sergei Solovyov, the founder, wanted the region, where a huge part of Russia’s wealth is produced, and the people who work there to have a chance for the same access to culture, that exists in the central part of the country.
This is a very right humanistic and cultural idea, that’s why from the very beginning we were told to bring the best artists and the best films from all over the world to the festival”.
Head of the Cinematography Department and the Digital Development of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation Dmitry Davidenko noted that the department currently provides support to 62 film festivals in Russia, 40 of which have international status.
He also noted that each of the film festivals, regardless of whether it receives support from the state or not, is important to the industry as a whole and to the development of the region where it takes place.
“It is very important that films at the festivals are presented by the creators themselves, the authors of the films. When viewers, after watching a movie, hear directly from the author about the concept of the film, the reason why this film was made, and this inspires someone later to come, for example, to VGIK, to get a professional degree and to try themselves in the field of a film production,” – says Dmitry Davidenko.
According to him, film festivals are sort of the guides that offer viewers specific programs that have passed the preliminary professional selection.
This year, the XXII International Film Debut Festival “Spirit of Fire” will be held from March 23 to 26 in Khanty-Mansiysk.
