The 13th international festival of film debuts “Spirit of Fire” will be wrapped up today, February 24, in the Siberia city of Khanty-Mansiysk, RIA Novosti reports.
According to the organizers, this cinematic forum continues to expand in scale and scope. The number of screenings this year increased by more than 50%. A total of 60 pictures from 20 countries were presented at the festival, including debuts from Hungary, Turkey, Israel, Brazil, Germany, Great Britain and Russia.
The main theme of this year’s Spirit of Fire festival was the 70th anniversary of Victory on the Great Patriotic War. Veterans of World War II were the guests of honor at the festival, walking down the red carpet along with the visiting film stars and being greeted with standing ovations in the theater halls.
Catherine Deneuve was also one of the guests of honor of the Spirit of Fire film festival this year. The renowned French actress held a series of meetings with audiences, spoke with residents of Surgut and Nizhnevartovsk and also held master classes at the Center for Talented Children of the North.
The festival included film screenings at 13 cinemas throughout the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District in several towns and villages. This event has been held every year since 2003, when it was initiated by the renowned Russian film director Sergei Soloviev and legendary Russian actor Alexander Abdulov.
Russkiy Mir Foundation Information Service
