15th International Muslim Film Festival Opened in Kazan

The 15th Kazan Muslim Film Festival started in the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan on April 24. The opening ceremony was held at the Kamal Theatre.  

An actress Yulia Rutberg and an actor Iskander Khairullin were leading the opening ceremony. The participants of the ceremony were welcomed on behalf of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, Vasil Shaykhraziev, who noted: ‘This is a worthy event, and we are pleased to have this opportunity to organize and host such festivals’. 

He also reminded that this year the festival is organized during KazanSummit-2019: ‘The combination of business and culture seems to us relevant, especially today, when we see that culture requires funding. We are confident that this experience will have positive results’. 

The performance of the honoured artist of the Republic of Tatarstan, Dina Garipova, accompanied by the Tatarstan State Song and Dance Ensemble continued the event.  

On behalf of Mufti Ravil Gaynutdin, the Chairman of the Council of Muftis of the Russian Federation, its First Deputy Rushan Hazrat Abbyasov welcomed the participants and the guests of the festival.

‘This film festival originated precisely from Kazan. We have a very rich, centuries-old culture of dialogue between representatives of different religions, cultures, and this is something we are proud of. There are no such festivals in the Islamic world. It is absolutely unique. This festival reflects our centuries-old friendship between the representatives of different cultures and religions. The motto of the festival ‘From the dialogue of cultures to the culture of dialogue’ actually carries a very important message’, said Rushan Abbyasov. 

At the conclusion of the opening ceremony, the members of the jury of the15th Kazan Muslim Film Festival were invited to the stage. As a tradition, they were presented Tatar hats, skullcaps. ‘It is a great honour for me to participate in the festival. I believe that 15 years is a long time, the festival has grown up’, said the chairman of the jury, a Kazakh director Serik Aprimov, wishing the festival to become an A class event. 

The festival events will last until April 30. The shortlist of the festival includes 55 films from 21 countries (Russia, France, Germany, Serbia, Portugal, Iceland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, the USA, Turkey, Iran, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, Morocco and Egypt).