December 28 - International Cinema Day: history and traditions of the holiday

Every year on December 28, Russia and other countries celebrate International Cinema Day, dedicated to one of the most popular arts of our time. In 2024 it falls on Saturday. About the history of the holiday and its traditions read in the material "Izvestia".

International Cinema Day - 2024: the history of the holiday

The date of the celebration of International Cinema Day is associated with a historical event - on December 28, 1895 in Paris, the Lumière brothers held the first public paid screening of 10 films, marking the beginning of the era of cinematography. Today, this holiday unites everyone associated with the art of cinema: from directors and actors to film critics and viewers who enjoy the magic of the big screen.

The history of cinematography began with the development of methods to create a "live" image. In the late 19th century, scientists and inventors around the world began experimenting with various devices for showing moving pictures.

One of the most important steps was the invention by the Lumiere brothers of an apparatus called the Cinematograph, which combined the functions of a movie camera and a projector. In 1859 in the "Grand Café" on the Boulevard Capuchinok in Paris held a legendary premiere screening of their pictures. The evening opened with the movie "The Arrival of the Train at La Ciotat Station". It consisted of simple shots of a moving train, which, however, amazed the audience. Many were frightened by the realism of the image - in excitement people jumped out of their seats and screamed.

This premiere gave a powerful impetus to the development of cinematic art and became the basis for the creation of films with more complex plots and special effects. From very short documentaries lasting about 1.5 minutes, limited by the imperfection of technical equipment and the length of the film, by the early 1900s, the pictures "grew" to 15-20 minute productions.

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In the 1920s, films with sound appeared, ending the almost 30-year era of silent black-and-white movies led by the legendary Charlie Chaplin. In 1927, the movie "The Jazz Singer" starring Al Jolson was released. The date of its premiere, October 6, is considered the birthday of sound cinematography. Later, it became technically possible to shoot color tapes. The premiere of such a movie took place in 1922. By the 1930s, cinema became a mass entertainment.

The premiere of the first Russian film "Ponizovaya Volnitsa" directed by Vladimir Romashkov took place on October 15, 1908. It was based on a folk song about Stenka Razin, "From behind the island to the shore" and lasted only 7 minutes.

In the XX century, cinematography developed rapidly, acquiring new styles, genres and technologies, from black-and-white silent movies to modern blockbusters with the use of computer graphics and special effects. Cinema has become a global phenomenon, accessible to everyone, and movies have become a powerful means of cultural exchange and influence on society.

International Cinema Day on December 28: traditions of celebration

International Cinema Day is celebrated in dozens of countries around the world. In Russia, especially in large cities, this date is often timed to coincide with the premieres of new films, retrospective screenings.

Cinemas, cultural centers and studios arrange actions for viewers, special screenings and discussions. Television often shows famous Russian films, as well as documentaries about directors and actors.

In other countries around the world, numerous festivals and screenings of old films, such as Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock and other great directors, are held on this day.

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In France they organize events in honor of the Lumière brothers, paying tribute to their contribution to cinema. In the U.S., the holiday is marked by screenings of iconic films and celebrations that recall key moments in the history of Hollywood. In India, where cinema is an important part of culture, both popular national films and international films are screened. In Italy, known for its contribution to European cinema, master classes in directing and acting are organized.

Exhibitions, master classes and lectures on film making and the history of cinema are also held on this day. Also on December 28, it is customary to thank people whose work is connected with the creation of films, to celebrate their contribution to the development of cinematography. Many countries hold awards for industry workers - actors, directors, screenwriters, cameramen and editors.

International Cinema Day: interesting facts about cinematography

Izvestia has collected some interesting facts about cinematography for International Cinema Day.

The longest movie in history is considered to be the Swedish experimental black-and-white film "Ambiance" directed by Anders Uerberg, which lasts 720 hours (30 days). The movie, which took seven years to shoot, starred two actors: performance artists Steen Persdotter and Niklas Hallberg. Uerberg explained that the project was a protest against remakes of old classic paintings. Before the premiere, he released a trailer that lasted seven hours. According to the author's idea, "Ambinas" was shown once on December 31, 2020 on the official website of the tape, after which its only copy was destroyed.

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The oldest actress to star in a movie was 114-year-old Jeanne Kalman, who played in the 1990 movie about Van Gogh "Vincent and I". In her youth, she actually knew the artist, who was a regular customer at her father's shop.

The first Oscar presentation took place on May 16, 1929 at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. The ceremony, which today is considered one of the most prestigious, that year lasted only 15 minutes. Twelve awards were presented, and the list of those present was limited to 250 people. The very name "Oscar" appeared only after six years of existence of the award of the film academy. According to legend, actress Bette Davis pointed out that the famous statuette looks like her husband Harmon Oscar Nelson. Since then, the "name" took root.

Earlier "Izvestia" told about the history and traditions of the International Day of the artist.