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Interview with Kirill Razlogov, Director Moscow International
Film Festival by film critic Lalit Rao
Kiril Razlogov is a multifaceted personality of Russian cinema.
Since many years he has been following a variety of cinema
related professions in Russia. Among his important functions one
can name-professorship at the Russian state cinema school (VGIK),
leadership of the Russian institute of cultural research. He is
the author of around 300 articles as well as 14 books on history
of art, media and cinema. He also plays an active role as a
researcher at Russian Film Archives (Gosfilmofond).
Film Critic Lalit Rao spoke to Kiril Razlogov in New Delhi during
7th Osian Cinefan Asian Film Festival (15-24 July 2005)
Lalit Rao : As a film festival director, how many festival big or
small do you attend in order to make a nice program for your
Moscow International film Festival ?
Kiril Razlogov: The main selection for the competitive section is
done outside of festivals at the film markets (Cannes, Los
Angeles, MIFED in the past, on a lesser scale Berlin) or during
special visits to specific film producing countries, because we
need premieres, more or les “virgin” films. For out of
competition screenings, we might use films shown at other
festivals. Personally I go to 8-10 festivals per year. But there
are 5 other members of the selection committee who travel also.
Lalit Rao : Over the years it is said that Karlovy Vary film
festival has become more important than Moscow International film
festival. Can we say that Karlovy Vary's gain is Moscow's loss ?
Kiril Razlogov: The crisis of both “socialist”
festivals after the collapse of the system was common. Karlovy
Vary came out of it quicker, becoming a yearly event already in
1994. Moscow took more time and became yearly only in 1999.
During these five years Karlovy Vary “won” something.
After that the competition and collaboration between those two
festivals developed normally.
Lalit Rao : Nice films are coming from central Asian countries
which were formally a part of soviet union some years back. What
is your festival's view in order to reveal these promising films
?
Kiril Razlogov: We are trying to favor our former compatriots
both in and out of competition. In 2004 the Estonian film
“Revolution of the pigs” got one of the main awards. In
2005 we have shown in competition “The Shepherd” by the
Uzbek director Yusuf Razykov.
Lalit Rao : In your Moscow International Film Festival 2005 book
you wrote that Moscow International Film Festival is a
transitional one. Could you please elaborate on that ?
Kiril Razlogov: One of the key problems of every big festival is
the link to film production and distribution. Several years age
we had to stop the traditional film market at our festival. It
had a sense during the socialist period, when the two political
systems were separated and lost any impact in the modern system,
monopolized by Los Angeles and Cannes (even MIFED disappeared in
the competition). This year we made a first step to a
co-production market in Moscow. We invited a group of European
producers and organized meetings with Russian producers and
directors. A projects market is to follow next year.
Lalit Rao : How is Moscow International Film Festival funded ?
Kirill Razlogov : Mostly from the State budget (from 50 to 75%
depending of the year) with a participation of Moscow government
and private sponsors (both in money and in kind). The overall
budget in 1999 (a good year) was $ 3,5 million, in 2005 (a bad
year) – $ 2,5 million
Lalit Rao : Does your festival get Hollywood stars to attract
more audience ? Do glamour and art work side by side at Moscow
International Film Festival ?
Kiril Razlogov: Yes.
Lalit Rao : Moscow International Film Festival takes place every
year in June. For how many months in advance do you work for your
festival ?
Kiril Razlogov: All the year around for non competitive sections
and special events, March to May to finalize the competitions.
Lalit Rao : Moscow International Film Festival is becoming more
popular than before. What were the constraints Moscow
International Film Festival had to face in the past ?
Kiril Razlogov: We had mostly political constrains both from the
inside (censorship) and the outside (boycotts). Some films were
difficult to get, some people did not wand to come to the
“Evil Empire”. But most of the really great filmmakers
were from the political left and we worked with them easily
before the changes.
Lalit Rao : What according to you is the difference between
Moscow film festival before the collapse of soviet union and
Moscow film festival after its collapse ?
Kiril Razlogov: The basic difference is that before the festival
was immensely popular because it was the only possibility to see
Hollywood and European blockbusters. Now they are on all the
screens commercially. The festival had to become more artistic
and its audience is mostly film buffs. The public is more
interested in the art-house movies, but the overall festival
audience dropped dramatically. It became impossible (or extremely
expensive) to come to Moscow from other cities in Commonwealth of
Independent States.
Lalit Rao : Where do you see Moscow International Film Festival
in 5 years from now ?
Kiril Razlogov : Between Venice and Berlin.
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