Russia’s main national film festival Kinotavr is to be held this year despite financial difficulties and rumors that it might not go ahead. But the fest is likely to have to scale down.
“It is true that Kinotavr is facing problems, just like the majority of [Russian] festivals,” director Fyodor Bondarchuk, the festival’s chairman of the trustee board, was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency TASS. “But it will be held.”
Kinotavr has been held in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi since 1989 and has been Russian cinema’s showcase for all these years.
Since Kinotavr’s previous edition, which took place last June, there have been rumors that the festival may not be held this year due to insufficient funding. A call for entries, which is normally announced in December, has not been announced yet.
“Support from the culture ministry has been confirmed, but that is not sufficient,” Bondarchuk explained, adding that the festival is considering a move from its usual venue, hotel Zhemchuzhina, to a smaller venue.
“Costs are high, and a crisis is there,” Bondarchuk said.
