2016 Kazan Film Festival: let us show the world real Islam
The Kazan International Film Festival opened in Pyramid Culture and Leisure Complex on 5 September. The opening ceremony was quite traditional if we don't say that Sheikh reproached Vladimir Medinsky, Renat Ibragimov inflamed the spectators and the jury chairman Aleksander Proshkin promised not to be strict with the competitors. A correspondent of Realnoe Vremya visited the opening of the festival.
Eleven awards for the best
Citizens of Kazan like to see guests and competitors to walk on the red carpet, which took place in the rain. But it did not reduce the number of the spectators. Really famous cinematographers and people who were invited by chance walked on the carpet. And this eclecticism continued in the hall of Pyramid.
Nevertheless, a tribute should be paid to the organisers of the opening ceremony. The action was less boring and not so kitsch as it used to be. A couple of presenters was a good choice – an actress from the Neva riverbanks Polina Tolstun and celebrated actor of the Kamal Theatre Iskander Khairullin. They smartly joked and easily switched from Russian to English and Tatar.
As usual, after the demonstration of the eleven statuettes – winners of nominations will get them – it was time for an official welcome. And PM of Tatarstan Ildar Khalikov was invited onto the stage. On behalf of the Tatarstan President, the head of the government expressed his gratitude to the creators of the festival for a great job.
'Kazan has become again a centre of mutual enrichment and crossing of world cultures and religious traditions, a point of attraction of both professionals and amateurs of cinema. I'm convinced this forum will gladden the spectators with premiers, varied programme and also give an opportunity to meet with 'stars' of Russian and world cinema. I wish all participants of the festival luck and deserved victories,' Ildar Khalikov read Tatarstan President's welcome speech.
As a tradition, the right to announce the opening of the festival was given to its president, a person who was the first to express the idea to organise a cinema forum in Kazan, the chairman of the Council of Muftis of the Russian Federation Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin. The respected Muslim cleric delivered a long speech, spoke sincerely and excitedly. In addition, he did not have any cliché in his speech. He remembered how his idea was supported by the first President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev, how the current President of the republic was handed over the baton of support of the festival.
'Today we see that attention is paid to Russia. Many people would like to destabilise regions where representatives of different ethnicities and religions live. They want to weaken us, they want us to have conflicts, be enemies and forget the history we have. But we, Muslims, are proud that we have never raised swords against our neighbours. We have been keeping our sincere faith and other faiths for more than a thousand years. We respect and appreciate our neighbours' traditions,' Ravil Gainutdin noted.
According to him, nowadays, when ideas of Islam are distorted by extremists, such events as the Kazan festival are very important because the festival in the capital of Tatarstan shows the world Islam's real face – a religion of peace and kindness. 'Enter into Islam completely! Do not cause corruption on the earth!' Sheikh cited Prophet's words and reproached the Minister of Culture of Russia Vladimir Medinsky who has not seen the true value of the Kazan Film Festival yet, which is quite important in the modern-day political conditions.
Weak link
The artistic part of the opening ceremony was diverse. An expressive performance of Kazan ensemble was a light spot compared to a pompous musical and dance performance. And when a former Kazan citizen and today's Moscow resident Renat Ibragimov whose baritone is unique appeared on the stage and started to sing his Solovushka song, the public gave him a huge ovation. Ibragimov's song was the most successful performance of the opening ceremony. 'Kazan will overtake Hollywood, it is heading towards it,' the singer joked. Unfortunately, he has been a rare guest in Kazan now.
Actors invited as guests were a traditional weak link. Lyudmila Khityaeva addressed the spectators and read amateur poems that bring back to the times when actors visited cities and villages with an old programme. And Yury Nazarov was not really good when he sang to a guitar. The 'respected guests' caused nothing but misunderstanding and pity.
But the creator of the film Muhammad: The Messenger of God Majid Majidi made us happy. 'If prophets had existed today, they could deliver their ideas with the help of films. It means that people who make films have an important mission,' noted the director who told much and right about Islam, a religion of kindness and peace. And his film proves it. 'Islam is a religion of love,' Madjidi concluded his monologue.
At the end of the ceremony, all jury members and its chairman Aleksander Proshkin appeared on the stage. The chairman assured the strict commission won't be too strict with the competitors and will try to be kind spectators, not juries. Programmes of the festival kicked off. During a week, the jury members will have to choose winners among 60 films that were comitted for trial.
