At SPIEF 2023, “The Soul of Russia. The North” Festival will present ethocinematic works about indigenous peoples
“The Soul of Russia. The North” Festival to be held as part of SPIEF 2023 at Lenfilm Studio will screen contemporary ethocinematic works about indigenous cultures. The programme features all of Russia’s northern regions from the Arkhangelsk Region to Chukotka. The film theatre at Lenfilm Studio seats 196. Each screening will be preceded by presentations and Q&As with directors and film scholars. The animation section of the festival’s programme includes an animated documentary and Suzdalfest collections of legends and tales of the peoples of the Russian North.
“The Festival will present the results of tremendous work done to promote ethnic filmmaking through, among other things, projects supported by the Presidential Foundation of Cultural Initiatives. Such venues have been created to foster open dialogue; it is important to hear suggestions from the people in the industry for developing it. Today, we see a marked revival of interest in traditions, focusing on ethnic music and dances. There is a special movement in filmmaking and fashion lines with ethnic decorations. Russia’s ethnic and cultural diversity is a competitive advantage, and it is right and proper that it is today the focus of special attention, that traditions are reflected in creative projects with filmmakers being among those working most actively professional communities in this area”, says Roman Karmanov, General Director of the Presidential Foundation of Cultural Initiatives.
“Filmmaking drives territorial development. The beauty and appeal of unique natural locations, visual representations of the wealth of the historical legacy and traditions of Russia’s North could and are already laying the foundations for new brands created through filmmaking, of the regions’ recognizable images. Together, we continue to seek actively for subjects for new scripts and to look for new projects,” says Fyodor Shcherbakov, Lenfilm’s General Director.
On 14–17 June from 14:00 to 22:00, audiences will enjoy cinematic masterpieces filmed in Russia’s Northern region: feature films, documentaries and animation.
14 June
14:00–16:00 “The Female Voice of the Arctic”, a documentary directed by Mila Kudryashova, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
16:10–17:40 “How Do You Mend a Bicycle?” directed by Nikandr Fyodorov, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
17:50–19:15 “Diary of an Outsider”, a documentary directed by Boris Dvorkin, Arkhangelsk Region
19:30–22:00 “White Nights of Mailman Alexey Tryapitsyn” directed by Andrey Konchalovsky, Silver Lion winner for Best Director at the Venice Film Festival
15 June
14:00–15:20 The Soul of Russia in animation. Echoes of Suzdalfest
15:30–17:10 Presenting young filmmaking of the Murmansk Region
17:15–19:50 “Territory” directed by Alexander Melnik, Krasnoyarsk Region, Chukotka Autonomous Area
20:00–22:00 The Spirit of Fire Academy presents a special early screening of “Yugra Stories” directed by Alexander Avilov, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area
16 June
14:00–15:20 The Soul of Russia in animation. Echoes of Suzdalfest
15:30–17:00 Presenting filmmaking of the Komi Republic
17:00–19:00 “Nerkagi”, a documentary directed by Ekaterina Golovnya, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area
19:15–21:30 “Do Not Bury Me Unless Ivan Is There”, winner of the top award at the Zimniy Open Russian Independent Film Festival; directed by Lyubov Borisova, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
17 June
14:00–15:40 “Book of the Sea”, an animated documentary directed by Alexey Vakhrushev, Chukotka Autonomous Area
15:40–17:20 Lenfilm studio presents a special screening: “Chief of Chukotka” directed by Vitaliy Melnikov
17:30–19:30 “The History of Snowboarding in Kamchatka”, a documentary; presentation of Kamchatka Territory filmmaking
17:30–19:30 “Haulout”, an Oscar-nominated documentary directed by Maxim Arbugaev; “The Whaler Boy”, best film of the Venice Days programme, directed by Filip Yuriev, Chukotka Autonomous Area.
