Nalchik hosted the field meeting of the Secretariat of the Russia's Union of Cinematographers, with the participation of representatives of North Ossetia - Alania, Daghestan, Karachayevo-Cherkessia, Adygea and Ingushetia. The meeting, devoted to the revival of film industry in the republics of the Northern Caucasus, was attended by the President of KBR Arsen Kanokov.
The head of Kabardino-Balkaria, Arsen Kanokov, mentioned as the main cultural problem «preserving the identity of the peoples of the Northern Caucasus, maintaining the unity of the republics, realizing that each of them is a single family of nations». To the resolution of these issues, among other measures, may contribute the revival of national documentary. For these purposes, in the opinion of Arsen Kanokov, it would be reasonable to establish in Nalchik a cinematographic base of the South of Russia. He also proposed to hold here, in Nalchik, the All-Russia film festival «Peace to the Caucasus». Arsen Kanokov also noted that the decision of Gosfilmofond (State Archive of Films of the Russian Federation) to renovate the cinema «Victory» and place there a branch of their organization «provoked a lively response from all residents of Kabardino-Balkaria, as with this unique building is linked the historical memory of several generations of our people».
Chairman of the Union of Cinematographers of Russia, actor, director, People's Artist of RSFSR, laureate of State Awards of Russia - Nikita Mikhalkov - stressed that «there is no Russia without the Caucasus, and vice versa. One cannot condescendingly treat regional culture as a kind of applied or folklore layer. Russia can get nowhere without the province, because province is just remoteness from the center». According to him, it is unlikely that movies will be shot in the Northern Caucasus in the nearest future, but the documentary and animation must go from here to «discover the Caucasus for Russia and the whole world». He is convinced that the cinematographers will not solve all the problems, of course, but «if there is national staff, we will be able to move towards each other. Caucasus must be understood».
President of the Kabardino-Balkarian Culture Fund, head of the Union of Cinematographers of KBR Vladimir Vorokov reminded that it is important to establish not only production of films, but their systematic transmission. Establishment of the North-Caucasian branch of Gosfilmofond in Nalchik will not only carry a cultural and educational mission of showing Russia's best films, but will serve as «a good example for the whole of Russia».
After heated discussions on the issues raised, the meeting participants approved the decision on establishing an office of Gosfilmofond of Russia in Nalchik. Under this office, Kabardino-Balkaria will provide a two-hall cinema «Victory». It was also decided to request the Russia's Ministry of Culture for setting quotas for the North Caucasian republics for the production of films in 2009 with government funding both in Russian language and the languages of the region, including production of films for children and youth.
In addition, the meeting adopted an appeal to the peoples of the Northern Caucasus to support the efforts of the Russian Federation leadership, aimed at eradicating xenophobia, maintaining political stability within the region and building a secure, peaceful and economically strong homeland. The initiative of the KBR President on holding the festival «Peace to the Caucasus» in Kabardino-Balkaria was also endorsed.
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The President of KBR Arsen Kanokov signed a decree on conferring the honorary title «People's Artist of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic» to the Chairman of the Union of Cinematographers of Russia Nikita Mikhalkov.
The title was awarded «for his great contribution to the development of cinematography and to the strengthening of inter-ethnic cultural ties».
The certificate and badge of the People’s Artist Nikita Sergeyevich received in Nalchik, before the presentation of excerpts from the film «Burnt by the Sun-2» and «Priest» directed by Vladimir Khotinenko.
At the same meeting Arsen Kanokov was presented a Certificate of Academician of the International Academy of creativity. The decision, taken by the leadership of the Academy, was announced by its President Georgy Gladyshev. |
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