The telegram reads, in part:
“For almost half a century, your festival has been giving fledgling directors, actors, and camera men from many European nations the opportunity to make a name for themselves, present their work to a sophisticated jury and wide audience, and learn lessons on professional skills from instructors at the famous Russian State University of Cinematography and former prize-winners.
This year’s busy festival programme features over 150 Russian and foreign films. There will be evenings devoted to the memory of Sergei Bondarchuk and Akira Kurosawa. Such events serve to support talented youth and maintain continuity of the best traditions in the cinematic art.”
The festival will include Russian and international short student film contests featuring over 150 films representing 31 film schools around the world. This year, the festival honours Sergei Bondarchuk’s 90th birthday anniversary.
The VGIK International Festival has been held since 1961, and has been a yearly event since 1998.