2nd Russian Film Festival will run 18 – 29 September, 2008
The official full programme including times and dates for the 2nd Russian Film Festival has been announced! Academia Rossica and Sovexportfilm are proud to present 10 theatrical premiers of the award-winning Russian films produced in 2007-2008. Leading directors and actors will be introducing their films, participating in Q&A sessions and offering master-classes. The main programme will be complemented by a series of documentaries, special selection of new media animation, and collaborative screenings with two leading Moscow Film Clubs: Art Kino and CineFantom.
FEATURE FILMS
Live to Remember
Russia, 2008, 100 min
Dir. Alexander Proshkin
Officially selected to open 19th Sochi film festival Kinotavr 2008, this film is an adaptation of Valentin Rasputin’s short story.
Thurs 18 September, 6.45pm* - Opening Night
Sat 27 September, 8.30 pm
rra Nova
Russia, 2008, 140 min
Dir. Alexander Mel’nik
It is 2013. The entire world has abolished capital punishment. Prisons are overcrowded with ex-condemned men. The international community decides to launch an experiment entitled ‘Terra Nova’.
Sun 21 September, 6pm* / Tue 23 September, 6pm
12
Russia, 2007, 153 min
Dir. Nikita Mikhalkov
12 characters, 12 truths. A story of 12 jurors discussing a verdict to pass on an 18-year old Chechen boy whether he is guilty of the 1st degree murder of his step father, an officer of the Russian army.
Sat 20 September, 8pm*/ Mon 22 September, 8pm
Simple Things
Russia, 2007, 110 min
Dir. Alexei Popogrebsky
A tender, subtle and nuanced portrayal of simple everyday life, 'Simple Things' is the first solo work from one of the creators of ‘Roads to Koktebel’. The film swept the board of awards at Kinotavr 2007.
Sun 21 September, 8pm / Mon 22 September, 6pm
Wild Field
Russia, 2008, 104 min
Dir. Mikhail Kalatozishvili
A film created by the grandson of the great Mikhail Kalatozov, the only Russian director to ever win a Palme d’Or. 'Wild Field' tells the story of a young doctor called Dmitri who is sent to the Kazakh steppe.
Thurs 25 September, 8pm / Fri 26 September 6pm*
Best of Times
Russia, 2007, 93 min
Dir. Svetlana Proskurina
The narrative in Svetlana Proskurina's latest film is deceptively simple. Two middle-aged women, Katia and Valia, are looking back on a distant youth in which, together with a man called Valentin, they formed a tragic love triangle.
Wed 24 September, 8pm* / Sun 28 September, 6pm
Cruelty
Russia, 2007, 90 min
Dir. Marina Liubakova
Zoya is a successful but lonely business woman in her thirties. Vika is a teenage girl longing for independence. Her favourite pastime is photographing the life in the windows of a neighbouring house.
Tue 23 September, 8pm*/ Wed 24 September, 6pm
20 Cigarettes
Russia, 2007, 90 min
Dir. Alexander Gornovsky
This dynamic and ironic work comes from the award winning scriptwriter of Pavel Lungin’s ‘The Island’. The film follows a day in the life of Moscow businessman Andrei, as events take ever more dramatic turns with each cigarette that he smokes.
Sat 27 September, 6pm*/ Mon 29 September, 8.30pm
Nirvana
Russia, 2008, 93 min
Dir. Igor Voloshin
A touching story about love and betrayal, and ultimately about a friendship between Alissa and Val - two girls living in one city.
Fri 19 September, 8.30pm* / Sat 20 September, 6pm
Yuri's Day
Russia, 2008, 137 min
Dir. Kirill Serebrennikov
Lubov, a world famous opera diva, arrives in her native town of Youriev-Polskii in order to show it to her teenage son before they both leave Russia for Europe. During one of their visits to a local Kremlin, Lubov’s son mysteriously disappears.
Sun 28 September, 7pm – Closing Night / Mon 29 September, 6pm
Documentary Films
A Melody for German
Russia, 2008, 26 min
Dir. Ivan Bolotnikov
A documentary film about an outstanding Russian filmmaker Alexei German. An honest and informal narrative told by the filmmaker about his life, his films and things that trouble him.
Fri 19 September, 6 pm
Rock Monologue
Russia, 2007, 69 min
Dir. Vladimir Kozlov
A documentary about the legendary musician Yuri Morozov, who created a subversive, rebellious new style of Eastern rock during the Brezhnev era. The film features previously unseen KG footage, as well as homemade videos of underground rock concerts.
Fri 19 September, 6pm*
Drunken Sailor
Russia, 2007, 90 min
Dir. Sergei Bodrov
Shot over 4 years in 5 different countries, the 'Drunken Sailor' follows the infamous British band 'The Tiger Lilies' whilst on tour, revealing their passion for visual and verbal mind games.
Fri 26 September, 8.30pm
Virginity
Russia, 2007, 89 min
Dir. Vitaly Mansky
Three teen girls, all over 18, make the journey from the provinces to Moscow in order to sell or barter the one possession they believe is of any value, their maidenhood.
Thurs 25 September, 6pm *
*screenings at the presence of cast and crew
Special Programme
Cine Fantom
The legendary Moscow film club, founded by the brothers Igor and Gleb Aleynikov, present their special collection of short films.
Tractors USSR 1987, 12 min. Fiction
Metastases USSR 1984, 16 min. experimental video
I'm Frigid/But it Doesn't Matter USSR 1987, 16 min.
Revolutionary Sketch USSR 1987, 7 min.
Boris and Gleb USSR 1988, 10 min.
Thurs 25 September, 2pm
The Blue Noses
The Blue Noses, aka artists Aexander Shaburov and Vyacheslav Mizin, are one of the most internationally famous Russian art-groups. Taking part in all major contemporary art biennales and media-forums, the The Blue Noses work consists of video-art, performance and collage.
Tue 23 September, 6pm
Flash Smash: Russian Digital Animation
A show of animation produced by independent animators who create macabre atmosphere throughout their work. With full aesthetic confidence they present gripping narratives of imaginary worlds populated with elusive creatures and filled with fantastic visions. Their work is a commentary on our contemporary society and new cultural practices. Compiled and presented by Vlad Strukov.
Sat 20 September, 4pm
Art Kino: independent shorts and documentary films
Art Kino is a Moscow film club whose aim is to revive the tradition of auteur cinema in Russia. It also organises a festival of short and documentary films. It also organises a festival of short and documentary films. The ArtKino programme will present a selection of short documentary and fiction films, produced by the young filmmakers in the last two years.
Sun 21 September, 4 pm
Discussions:
Documentary Fiction vs. Fictional Documentary
A roundtable discussion on the past, present and future of documentary filmmaking. Top Russian and British filmmakers and critics will discuss the changing boundaries between documentary and fiction in contemporary film.
Ben Lewis, Patrick Forbes, George Carey, Teresa Cherfas, Vitaly Mansky; chaired by Patrick Hazard.
Thurs 25 September, 4pm
Open Rehearsal Weekend
This year, the Russian Film Festival is collaborating with London’s unique venture, Open Rehearsal, to take the British public behind the scenes of contemporary Russian filmmaking.
‘Archives and Films: Witnesses of Time Regained’, master class with Evgeny Tsymbal; Sat 27 September, 4pm;
Film Festival: Art or Business, talk by Andrey Plakhov, Sun 28 September, 4pm
The Filmmaker and Humanitarian Values
This roundtable discussion of international experts from Russia, Italy, Germany and USA will address topics concerning the contemporary role of the filmmaker.
Alexander Golutva, Mikhail Shvydkoy, Kirill Razlogov, Martin Kanzler, Dr. Hans-Joachim Schlegel, Tom Luddy.
29 September, 11 am – 4 pm , BAFTA, 95 Piccadilly ( accreditation essential)
Venue
The Apollo West End Cinema, with its 5 screens and stylish bar will play host to the festival.
We recommend booking tickets well in advance. Priority will be given to Rossica Film Club members, ROSSICA journal subscribers and to members of Apollo Cinemas.
Organisers
The Festival is organised by Academia Rossica, in partnership with the Russian Ministry of Culture, the Russian Embassy in London, Sovexportfilm (Moscow), The Boris Yeltsin Foundation (Moscow), and VTB Bank (Moscow/London).
Chatelin Bruno 
