38 Tatarstan films were submitted to the XV Kazan Film Festival

38 films created in Tatarstan were submitted for the participation in the XV Kazan Muslim Film Festival held in Kazan on 24 - 30 April, 2019. According to experts, these films represent a significant part of the regional film production for the last 1-2 years. Currently, the entries are evaluated by the selection committee. Shortlisted films might participate in the competition programme of the festival.

There are 2 full-length feature, 2 animations and 8 short documentaries among the submitted films. However, the majority of the entries (26) are short features.

‘The previously introduced National Competition nomination of the festival encourages Tatarstan filmmakers. It is becoming even more evident considering the growth of the entries submitted from Tatarstan. There is no doubt that we would like to see more our films to be shortlisted, however, this may only happen if the entries are competitive. Considering the entries, it is necessary to highlight the significant progress made by young regional filmmakers. Hopefully, this trend will continue and Tatarstan filmmaking will reach new levels’, comments the Executive Director of the festival Milyausha Aytuganova.

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Over 400 entries from 44 countries were submitted to the 2019 edition of the Kazan Muslim Film Festival. The entries are currently evaluated by the selection committee. The shortlisted films will be announced by the end of March, 2019.

Kazan Muslim Film Festival has been held in the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia since 2005. The festival is founded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Mayor of Kazan and the Council of Muftis of Russia and organised by Tatarkino. The festival programme focuses on Russian and international films promoting the ideas of tolerance, peacebuilding and intercultural dialogue regardless any religion affiliations. The festival motto is ‘Through the dialogue of cultures - to the culture of dialogue’.