The Department of Internal Policy of Yugra reports:
Governor of Yugra Ruslan Kukharuk held a meeting of the organizing committee for the preparation and holding of the International Festival of Cinematic Debuts "Spirit of Fire". The event was attended by Vice President of the Film Festival Maria Zvereva, a representative of the Film Festival's communications partner, Deputy Director of the Roscongress Foundation Elena Marinina, Head of the Department of Corporate Communications and Regional Development of the Public Joint Stock Company Gazprom Neft Alexander Dybal, as well as representatives of the cultural community and the film industry.
"We consider the venue of the International Festival "Spirit of Fire" not only as a cultural event, but also as a good reason for our guests to visit Khanty-Mansiysk, to visit Yugra. For participants and guests of the film festival, art lovers, the festival is an opportunity to immerse themselves in the history of cinema, study modern works, learn more about our region and our country," emphasized Ruslan Kukharuk.
The members of the organizing committee determined the dates for the XXIII International Debut Film Festival "Spirit of Fire". Vice-President of the Film Festival Maria Zvereva indicated that the festival will be held in Khanty-Mansiysk from March 5 to 9, 2025. From November 15, 2024, applications for participation in the competition programs of the film festival will begin, which will last until January 19, 2025. Vice-President of the International Debut Film Festival noted that the festival programs are expanded every year, due to which it is possible to attract a larger number of participants and guests to the film festival venues. In addition, Maria Zvereva noted that in recent years, the Russian competition "Spirit of Fire" has been popular, Russian debuts are watched by viewers no less willingly than foreign premieres.
"For the second year in a row, we are presenting films that have not yet been completed as part of the Spirit of Fire festival. Debutants are filming in parallel with their presentation at the festival. We propose to continue this work at the next film festival, as the Spirit of Fire platform allows us to discover new names," shared her opinion the festival's vice-president Maria Zvereva.
During the meeting of the organizing committee, the proposal to expand the festival program in connection with the celebration of the 2025th anniversary of the Great Victory in 80 was supported.
"Next year, Russia will host a number of events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. It would be right to pay attention to the memorable date within the framework of the International Film Festival "Spirit of Fire" and organize a special program in cooperation with the State Film Fund of the Russian Federation," noted the Governor of Yugra Ruslan Kukharuk.
During the meeting, the participants of the organizing committee approved the candidacy of film director, TV presenter, publicist, film scholar Petr Shepotinnik for the post of chairman of the selection committee of the XXIII Spirit of Fire Film Festival. In addition, the composition of the festival's organizing committee was updated. It includes: Head of the Department of Corporate Communications and Regional Development of the public joint-stock company Gazprom Neft Alexander Dybal, Deputy Governors of Yugra Elena Mayer and Anatoly Utkin, Director of the Department of Internal Policy of Yugra Kirill Kharitonov and the head of the city of Khanty-Mansiysk Maxim Ryashin.
"We are pleased to continue working on the formation of the festival's business program, which is an important component for discussing issues of film industry development, film education and cultural exchange. They will be attended by Russian and international industry leaders, media managers and public figures who will discuss the specifics of film industry development in different countries, issues of joint film production, content promotion, the practice of mutual film screenings, the creation of professional personnel exchange programs, problems of national film distribution and measures to preserve heritage and national identity," said Elena Marinina, Deputy Director of the Roscongress Foundation.
Let us recall that the 22nd Spirit of Fire festival was included in the plan of events for the Russian Federation's BRICS presidency in 2024. The Spirit of Fire International Debut Film Festival has been held in Yugra since 2002. The general partner of the festival is Gazprom Neft, which has supported the festival for 18 years. The communications partner of the festival is the Roscongress Foundation.
Also, at the suggestion of the festival president Emir Kusturica, which was voiced at the organizing committee by vice-president Maria Izoldovna Zvereva, the festival will pay attention to new technologies and artificial intelligence and their possible application in various areas of cinema and at different stages of film production.
Photo: Social Media Center of Yugra
