The footage will decide everything: which countries presented their films at the 48th Moscow International Film Festival

The 48th Moscow International Film Festival officially kicked off in Moscow on April 16. This year, he brought together fifty countries, and the program included about two hundred paintings. The opening film was Alexander Kott's war drama "Angels of Ladoga" about the first months of the siege of Leningrad. By tradition, the screening was preceded by a red carpet leading to the Musical Theater. For more information, see the Izvestia report.

"This year's program is cool and powerful"

The Moscow International Film Festival is an event with long—established traditions that the organizers honor. But there is one thing beyond their control — the weather, which has been overcast with unenviable regularity for an open-air event in recent years. So this time, an hour before the first stars appeared, it was raining over Pushkin Square. But, fortunately for the guests, who were ready to show off their best outfits, it ended as soon as they set foot on the red carpet.

Director Anton Maslov was the first to appear on it. Last year he was a participant in the screening, and this year he joined the jury of the Russian Premieres competition.

— This is my first time on the MIFF jury, and I think this is a gift for the fact that last year we won the competition with the painting "Hello to my Husband." The main task of the jury is always to find the number one film," Anton Maslov shared with Izvestia. — This year's program is cool and powerful. And judging such masters is a strange feeling, because they are great bright directors.

The MIFF track differs from other festivals in the approach of artists to the choice of images. For many years, Nastasya Samburskaya won the palm for the most spectacular exits. This year, the actress did not change herself and appeared in a red dress with a train.

However, she wasn't the only one who managed to make a name for herself. Actress Valeria Astapova is the star of the TV series "Moscow does not believe in tears. Everything is just beginning," she made her debut on the MIFF track in a luxurious black feather dress and stood out advantageously.

— This is the image of my friend, designer Zhenya Aron. I chose it because it is in tune with this amazing event, in which creative flight reigns," the actress shared her emotions with Izvestia. — I'm thrilled, excited, beautiful, large-scale! It's very nice to be here. Especially if at such moments you freeze and remember where your beginning was.

Pavel Derevyanko and his wife Zoya were on the MIFF track for the first time. They chose daring leather sets. Alla Sigalova also appeared in a fateful image — a lacquered raincoat over a silver dress.

Actress Alexandra Kiselyova, who walked the red carpet twice last year in different outfits, limited herself to one thing this year, but also with an idea.

— It's a theatrical image that takes us back to the 1960s. Retro—yoga, black lips — in general, today I decided to give a little drama," she told Izvestia. — I'll be rooting for my own people. The special program includes the film "While the Sky is Watching", where I make my debut as a creative producer, and I'm also filming there. This is a film about dancing, about the underground, and our characters are real dancers.

In an hour, the main stars of the industry — Alexey German Jr., Dmitry Chebotarev, Svetlana Druzhinina, Alexey Uchitel, Anna Snatkina, Alexander Tsypkin and many others – walked along the path leading to the Moscow Musical Theater.

—MIFF is our favorite festival," said Ivan Tverdovsky, who joined the jury of the main competition this year. — You can't prepare for this role. I try not to program myself in advance. All the more interesting — you're waiting for something unexpected.

What will be shown at the MIFF

As a year earlier, the opening film of the festival was a military drama. Then the public was shown "Not on the list" with Vladimir Mashkov about the defense of the Brest fortress. Now the festival has been launched by "Angels of Ladoga" directed by Alexander Kott. This is a story about the first months of the siege of Leningrad.

"For me, this is a new topic and a story that I've never heard of, about the buoys," Alexander Kott explained to Izvestia. "These are ice skating yachts, and it turns out they played a big role at the beginning of the war, when it became necessary to deliver cargo, ammunition, and ferry people across thin ice. which would not withstand heavy machinery. We gathered the yachtsmen and trained them. They were called the angels of Ladoga because huge sailboats appeared on the white ice at the most critical moments when it seemed that there was no hope.

The mission of the heroes of his film to transport ammunition turns into an operation to rescue orphans from an orphanage who did not have time to evacuate. Among the guests of the opening ceremony was the performer of one of the main roles Tikhon Zhiznevsky.

— These ice skating yachts were elusive. Not a single boer operator was injured in the war. Therefore, the shooting was boyishly playful, adventurous and interesting. We trained, we were instructed," the actor said. — My children were born in St. Petersburg. We admire the local rivers and canals only because of the heroic deeds of people, including these boomers. Therefore, for me, as for any resident of our country, this is a very important topic.

The theme of the Great Patriotic War will also be featured in the program of the main competition. Russia will be represented by Pavel Ivanov's film "Father" about a Siberian hunter who volunteers at the front to find his missing son.

Another Russian film in this category is Vygotsky with Sergey Gilev and Victoria Isakova. In total, the main competition included films from ten countries, including Italy, Spain, the Republic of Korea, Argentina, Mexico, Iran, Mongolia, China and India.

Roman Mikhailov, who has formed his own devoted audience, will present his work in the Russian Premieres competition. His "Gin Songs", like his previous films "It's Necessary to make films about love" and "Firebird", were shot in India.

Ivan Sosnin, a young Ural film director, is already a regular participant in the MIFF. Two years ago, his "Alien" participated in the main competition. Then he brought "Legends of Our Ancestors," where Alexander Yatsenko played a reporter from Yekaterinburg who, after an editorial assignment in the taiga, begins to hear and see an ancient spirit. This year Sosnin will present to the public a short meter — "Mom". Starring Elena Nikolaeva, Daria Ekamasova and Anton Kuznetsov. The authors explore how far a mother is willing to go if her child's life is at stake.

— The topic is very important, and it's worth watching this movie. We had two shooting days. Working with Vanya is a joy," Daria Ekamasova said laconically, who, after a series of interviews, obviously froze in a spectacular off—the—shoulder dress.

This year, the actress also joined the jury of the main competition.

The opening ceremony was held without Mikhalkov.

The symbol of the Moscow International Film Festival is a chain with the image of St. George the Victorious. The honor of wearing it passes from year to year to the chairmen of the jury — this is the most important tradition of the competition, embodying the transfer of power.

At the last MIFF, the Spanish director Luis Mignarro was the winner. Now the massive chain has passed to one of South Asia's brightest and most influential filmmakers, Prasanna Vitanage from Sri Lanka, whose work has been repeatedly awarded at international festivals. But Nikita Mikhalkov, the president of the review, did not present it, he was not at the opening for the first time in a long time. This was done by the host of the evening, actor Daniil Vorobyov.

After that, Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova presented Sergey Bezrukov with the first prize of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival - "I Believe", named after Konstantin Stanislavsky. The artist's speech was humorous — the artist carefully recalled that not only the Moscow Provincial Theater, but also the Moscow Art Theater had recently been under his leadership.

— I continue to work — and the students, and the theater ... theaters (the audience laughs). We work and we are proud that they believe me," he said from the stage. — I'm used to working without thinking about the rewards. But I think this is the most important one for every actor, because the prize is called "I Believe." No matter how many roles you play, the main thing is that the audience believes you.

The show will last a week and will end on April 23. The closing film will be the dramedy "Berlin Hero", the latest work by German director Wolfgang Becker.

The Russian audience knows him from the film "Good Bye, Lenin!", which also premiered at the Moscow International Film Festival more than twenty years ago. In the center of the plot of his new job is the owner of Michael Hartung's unprofitable video rental, who suddenly becomes a national hero because of a mistake and sinks deeper into lies in order not to lose recognition.