In the position of stepson, or the fate of author’s cinema in Russia

TAMBOV. The results of the audience voting at the IX festival of copyright short films “Artkino” are summed up.

Author’s cinema in Russia has a difficult fate. The situation is not a beloved child, which is spoiled and protected, but stepson. They tolerate it, observing decency, but if possible push it into a corner and allocate funds to provide for its needs according to the residual principle. There is not enough and constant support from the state, a clear rental policy, an effective strategy for promoting and popularizing festival films. However, a layer of cinephiles, ready for experiments on the screen, and directors capable of them, managed to form in the pre-crisis years. Neither toughening censorship, nor recommendations in choosing “pass-through” topics, nor green light conducive to demonstrating “pseudo-life” on TV channels will be able to influence this.

Interest in auteur cinema, the “skill" to watch it should be formed at an early age. The experience of Western countries is evidence of this. Full rooms for viewing arthouse paintings, sincere interest in them, a sufficient number of sessions do not arise from scratch. The experience of Western countries is proof of this. English teenagers study the aesthetics of cinema and its history back in school, while the Swedish ones are guaranteed the possibility of subsidizing their first cinema experiences without bureaucratic delays.

Not everyone is capable of understanding that the film palette will become poorer without this complex, paint that is not always recognized by the inexperienced eye. A five-million quitrent to obtain a rental certificate is only possible for the advertised blockbusters and may turn out to be an insurmountable obstacle to the normal development of this segment of the film industry.

Festivals in this situation become a major venue open to alternative art, fresh ideas and free speech. Sometimes only here you can see interesting, ignored by the rental news. Here, independent authors have the opportunity to make themselves known. “Artkino”, which shows short films of various genres, is one of them.

The Tambov Youth Theater hosted the second stage of the IX festival, which started in October last year. It will end on September 24th. According to the results of the audience voting, the first place was taken by the debut film of Alexander Korolyov “Forgotten” about the relationship of people with hearing impairments. Previously, he had lost recognition as the best feature film at the St. Anna festival and received the Grand Prix at the II International Film Festival of Motivational Films BRIDGE of ARTS. Actors from the Nedoslov Theater took part in the shootings.

Second place in the picture "I close my eyes" by Andrei Taratukhin, director, screenwriter, actor. Her world premiere took place at the Cottbus festival in Germany. The music was written by Cyril Richter. In second place was the work of Andrei Taratukhin "I close my eyes." The third - at the "Registrar" Daria Razumnikova about a desperate act of a romantic registry office worker.

Elena Tanakova © Gallerix.ru