[Katya Mtsitouridze, Director General of ROSKINO, third from right]

The Russian Pavilion was packed with press Thursday, May 15 for the Gala Opening of the Russian Pavilion at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.  Katya Mtsitouridze, Director General of ROSKINO, Russia's establishment for the promotion of Russian film and filmmakers in the international community, was there to introduce the program.

There as well was Ukrainian producer Natalya Mokritskaya [below] with her co-producer Mila Rozanova to present a trailer for the upcoming Battle for Sevastopol, a biopic of Soviet sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko by director Sergey Mokritsky.  They hope to enter the film into competition at the 2015 Cannes FIlm Festival in honor of the 70th anniversary of the end of the second world war.  Speaking on the co-operative work between Russia and Ukraine on creating the film, Mtsitouridze says, "We hope that culture and cinema is the best language to communicate between us".

[Natalya Mokritskaya, co-producer of Battle for Sevastopol (2015)]

In the continutation of co-operation between nations, ROSKINO announced the first Saint Petersburg International Media Forum (SPIMF). This forum will include not only movies, but television and new media platforms such as web produtions as well, with each media platform having equal standing.  Mtsitouridze expects many major networks, such as HBO, Showtime, and Stars, will participate. Five projects have already been confirmed, and she encourages people to come to the pavilion for more information or to apply for grants.

This year marks RUSKINO's 90th anniversary, and the 7th anniversary of the Russian Pavilion at Cannes.