Fire is a symbol of life in all cultures, and for northern people it is warmth, light, and protection. The spirit of fire is especially revered among northern peoples; in their mythology, it is represented as a living being dwelling in hearths. It helps preserve well-being in the home, protects from illness, and patronizes the family. Fire has always been treated with great respect. The festival has become such a "guardian" for cinematic debuts as well.
Among the festival's main goals:
- Creating conditions for nurturing a harmoniously developed personality, introducing audiences to the best works of Russian and world cinema.
- Creating conditions for cultural diversity in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug, promoting the development of arts and creative industries, entrepreneurial, tourism, and cultural potential.
- Finding and supporting talented debuts, integrating Russian cinema into the global film process, creating intangible cultural heritage.
We have adhered to these principles for 20 years, and we are delighted that over the years our mission has been shared and supported by such outstanding artists as Sergey Solovyov and Alexander Abdulov, Krzysztof Zanussi and Oleg Yankovsky, Georgy Danelia and Nani Bregvadze, Pyotr Todorovsky and Alexander Mitta, Fanny Ardant and Vincent Pérez, Catherine Deneuve and Pierre Richard, and many, many other friends of our festival.