Sergei Lavrentiev on the Particularities of the Russia - the Islamic World Parallel Programme

The parallel program of the 14th Kazan International Muslim Film Festival including 22 films produced in the countries of the Russia - Islamic World Strategic Vision Group is screened at Almaz Cinema Port.

The films of the parallel program are divided into regional sections. The Maghreb Secrets section will screen Tunis by the Night by Elyes Baccar (Tunisia, France), Hedi by Mohamed Ben Attia (Tunisia, Belgium, France, Qatar, UAE) Salah a Kabyle of Palestine by Tahar Houchi (Algeria, Switzerland, Lebanon) and Sequence One by Noreddine Kebaili (Algeria, Lebanon, Syria).

The Turkish Motives section has 4 films produced in Turkey: Torn Love by Nurdan Tekeoglu, Trip of Evliya Chelebi to Kazan by Emir Aksay, Seafarers Birthday by Gültekin Bayir, Beyond the Clouds by Kaan Atilla Taskin .

The Persian Carpet section is including the Journey by Mohamed Al Daradji (Iraq), Masaleye Mahin, Moshkele Maliheh by Hossein Tabrizi (Iran), Arpachai a Song of Separation by Humaid Alsuwaidi (Iran, Azerbaijan).

The section devoted to the Cinema after the USSR or Post Soviet Area involves the screenings of the following films: the Way by Evgeniy Lumpov (Kazakhstan), a Call to Father by Serick Appymov (Kazakhstan), a Road by Kalvira Akchalova (Kyrgyzstan), Life by Cholponai Borubayeva (Kyrgyzstan), the Crying of Tanbur by Anisa Sabiri (Tajikistan) and Firmness by Rashid Malikov (Uzbekistan).

The Hindustan, the Crossroads of Destinies section has 4 films: No Bed of Roses by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki (Bangladesh), the Undecided by Malaka Dewapriya (Shri Lanka), Saawan by Asma Qadri (Pakistan) and Mithat’s Dream by Shahriyar Kabir (Bangladesh).

According to the head of the festival selection committee, the programming director of the 14^th Kazan Muslim Film Festival, a member of Nika Russian Academy of Cinema Arts, a film critic Sergey Lavrentiev, this parallel programme reflects the lives of people practicing Islam via its full length and feature films: Islamic World is well represented in the 14^th edition of the festival, although the films are quite relevant for Europe and America as well’.

‘When there is certain attitude towards Islamic culture, such program is needed to change these views and show everyone that Islamic world is as other cultures promotes humanistic values’, highlighted Lavrentiev.

One of the films participating in the parallel programme will be awarded with a Special Prize for the Dialogue of Cultures in the Islamic World of the Strategic Vision Group. The name of the winner will be announced at the closing ceremony of the festival on September 10 at Riviera Complex.