In this article, we will discuss the most popular documentary film festivals. Ready? Then we can start!
From the history of the genre
Documentary film festivals in Russia are ... It is impossible to discuss such a topic without first touching upon the actual history of documentary filmmaking. At first it was a chronicle, with the help of a camera they tried to capture time. The arrival or departure of the autocrat, the imperial family entering a prayer service, smoking chimneys of navy ships in black, a meeting of reigning persons and again military, only land exercises. All this was a breakdown of the instrument!
The fact that cinema is the greatest of all arts was once said by the founder of a great power, the Soviet Union. And as you know, great people say nothing without consequences. With the victory of the socialist revolution, documentary cinema in Russia, more precisely in the USSR, began its rapid development.
Already in 1918, with serious financial and organizational support from the state, documentary agitation and propaganda began to work in large numbers. In March 1918, a Film Committee was created, a periodical magazine “Kinonedelya” was published, a mass of talented journalists, directors, cameramen were involved in the work, and on May 1, 1918, Lenin was first captured on film, though separately from the mythical log.
By 1924, documentary cinema already had its own headquarters - the Soyuzkinochronika film trust, which was engaged in the production and organization of rental of chronicles films, both in the Soviet Union and abroad.
Since 1925, industry and specialized film magazines are launched onto the stream. Throughout the country, the number of film installations is increasing, a system of correspondent points, studios is being created, and special movie trains are being equipped. And in this mass of agitprop, real talents and geniuses of documentary films are manifested and grown. “Well, where,” you ask, “are documentary film festivals?” In 1935, the first Moscow film forum was already held, where feature films and documentaries (both Soviet and foreign) took part. From there actually begins the "festival" story.
Documentary cinema is a worthy genre of cinema!
Many find documentary films boring and uninteresting. Why is that? Indeed, in fact, this is an independent art form with its own rules, traditions, and paradigm. What's the matter?
Ask yourself, how long have you watched any documentary? Not these meaningless cuts of historical chronicles on "mystical" channels, such as REN-TV, but the real, complete, albeit short, one with its own specific storyline and author's idea.
The older generation remembers that in the times not so distant (some 20 years have passed), in every cinema there was a newsreel room, which was almost empty during the sessions, before each feature film they either “drove” or a newsreel (for example, “Wick” ), or some short documentary.
With the collapse of the Union and the rampant freedom and democracy, a lot of things like "blown away by the wind." And in relation to documentary films, the state order was blown away, but the business does not have this need. Accordingly, problems began with financing. Now some kind of movement’s appearance is being created in the Ministry of Culture, but the documentary is being financed on the principle “if only it had not died at all”. But the festivals are held ...
Regular festivals
This is precisely what does not allow our documentary filmmaking to die completely. Yes, even the enthusiasm and love for the work of the filmmakers themselves, their perseverance and hope for common sense!
Documentary film festivals are conventionally arranged according to a certain hierarchy. Back in 1933, the FIAPF International Organization was established. It helps filmmakers to develop rules and regulations on intellectual property, the fight against piracy, the use of IT technologies, relations with the media, and the resolution of financing issues.
FIAPF ranks film festivals according to established criteria. Today they are 52 accredited. Since only documentary film festivals in Russia are considered here, it must be said that of these 52, only 2 are held in Russia. This is a very small number! By the way, only one of them ("Message to the Man" - the international festival of documentary films) is the annual forum of documentaries, registered in St. Petersburg since 1989.
Competitive events in Russia
To coordinate work on the development of documentary and popular science films, at the end of 2013, the SC RF established and created the “Documentary Film Association of the SK RF”. Today it is the organization under whose auspices most of the documentary film festivals are established and held. The value of these film forums cannot be overestimated.
Festival "Laurel". It was established in mid-1999 by the RF IC. The founders are 12 producing films and program studios. Currently, Lavr is a unique professional award in Russia.
“Russia” is another documentary film festival. Yekaterinburg is the city in which it is held annually. Every year, people come here not only from different cities of Russia, but also from different countries around the world. I wonder why this regular event is so popular? This is an open documentary film festival, and since 1988 one of the most representative non-fiction film festivals. The festival brings together documentary and science-polar films from Russia, the CIS and, of course, the Baltic states.
Festival "Flahertiana" (Perm). The event is held every year in early September. The administration of the city of Perm and the film company "New Deal" are conducting this event.
The festival holds serious seminars on the art of documentary expressiveness. As an international festival held only since 2006.
The Artdocfest Festival is the largest documentary film festival in Russia. Moscow is the city where this event is held. Born in 2007, SK Russia. Held annually in early December. The competition is open to authors from all over the world who make films in Russian. First of all, tapes are selected whose authors are asked by the development of modern docks. films.
Show US is a documentary film festival held regularly in the USA and Russia. Here are the premieres of not only documentaries from different countries of production, but also other movie genres that are no less popular.
Other movie
A number of film forums are annually held in Russia. The works of documentary filmmakers are presented to one degree or another on them. Along with specialized non-fiction film festivals, there are those in which documentaries are shown in separate sections and sections, such as, for example, at the Moscow International Film Festival, which is especially not required for anyone to present. Some festivals need to be told.
Forum of real cinema "Cinema.DOC" (Moscow). Started to work in 2005. This is a competition of short films (documentaries and fiction), which shows life as it is: people, events, problems. It takes place annually in the last week of February.
Forum of Russian films “Window to Europe” (Vyborg). It has been working since 1993. International forum of cinema and television programs “Golden Tambourine” (Khanty-Mansiysk). It has been held since 1998. Contests and nominations involve television documentaries and television programs.
International Irkutsk Documentary Film Forum "Man and Nature". Submitted non-fiction films of socio-environmental orientation.
International Forum "Meetings in Siberia" (Novosibirsk). Film Festival of Russian and Foreign Documentary Films. Held annually in early September.
The All-Russian Film Forum “Eurasian Kaleidoscope” (Moscow) is a documentary film festival about the uniqueness of national cultures.
Are film documentary festivals needed in Russia?
Only a part of documentary film-making film forums was presented here. The question of whether they are needed brings us back to another question. Ask yourself, finally, how long have you watched at least some documentary?
Sergey Yursky said very well about this: “Art cinema since the advent of 3D, and now 4D has been rapidly moving away from real art, that is, from the individual ... Art cinema has become infinitely imitative one to another ... Preserving the combination of human life, the personality of that who shoots the work, and those who were in the spotlight, that is, in the frame, this turned into a professional documentary film, which has almost nowhere to watch in our days. Therefore, any documentary film festival is exclusive! ”