15 May, 2013
(Press release sent by Cultural Connections on behalf of UC RUSAL)
1st RUSSIAN FILM FESTIVAL IN HONG KONG
RUSSIA THROUGH THE BIG SCREEN
To be unveiled in June 2013
For the very first time, a Russian Film Festival is taking place in Hong Kong from 14 to 20 June in Hong Kong. Presented by UC RUSAL, the first Russian company to list on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, and organized by Academia Rossica, a cultural organization based in Moscow dedicated to promote contemporary Russian culture, “RUSSIA THROUGH THE BIG SCREEN” marks a never-before initiative to offer Hong Kong moviegoers the most illustrious Russian films made in the recent years.
From poetic parables to perceptive drama, from comedy to thriller and fantasy – the Festival programme offers a diverse set of genres and themes, ensuring that there is something for everyone. This window to the real Russia of today will surprise Hong Kong audiences with the originality, diversity and dynamism of modern Russia and contemporary Russian cinema.
The festival will be unveiled by Legend No. 17, a biopic on Valeri Kharlamov, a star ice hockey player from the Soviet era, chronicling his early childhood, his career in this popular-in-Russia sport and his untimely death. Apart from this opening film, other highlights of the programme include Kokoko (2012) and Rita’s Last Fairy Tale (2012), both triumphing at the Moscow International Film Festival, and How I Ended This Summer (2010), winner of two Silver Bears at the Berlinale.
Svetlana Adjoubei, Director at Academia Rossica, says, “We and our partners at UC RUSAL are delighted and honoured to present contemporary Russian cinema in Hong Kong at this inaugural Russian Film Festival in Hong Kong. This First Russian Film Festival in Hong Kong takes the cultural relations between Russia and Hong Kong to the next level. It also responds to a recent decision of the two governments of Hong Kong and Russia to work to strengthen cultural dialogue, in support of the mutual interest which the two nations share in each other’s culture.”
Vera Kurochkina, Deputy CEO and Board Member of UC RUSAL, says: “As the first Russian company to list on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 2010, the Company has been committed to introducing the best of Russian culture to Hong Kong and promoting cultural exchanges between the two regions. Russian film and its cinema industry have a long and distinguished history earning widespread international recognition. We are proud to invite Hong Kong audience on a truly fascinating journey to explore the wonderful world of Russian movies.”
To promote the festival, the presenter is now running a Facebook Quiz on “Friends of Russia” Facebook page (www.facebook.com/friends.russia). Participants will have a chance to win tickets to the Opening Ceremony and an attractive iPad Mini!
“RUSSIA THROUGH THE BIG SCREEN” will take place in The Grand Cinema at Elements, and box office is open from now. All films will be shown in Russian with English subtitles.
Poster: [Download]
Film stills: [Download: Legend No. 17, Chapiteau-Show] [Download: Elena] [Download: Kokoko, Rita’s Last Tale, How I Ended This Summer, I’ll Be Around] [Download: Love with an Accent]
SCREENING SCHEDULE
| Date | 日期 | Time 時間 | Film | 電影 |
| 14 June (Fri) | 6月14日 (五) | 19:15 | Legend No.17 | 冰之驕子 |
| 15 June (Sat) | 6月15日 (六) | 17:20 | Love with an Accent | 在格魯吉亞尋到愛 |
| 15 June (Sat) | 6月15日 (六) | 19:30 | Kokoko | 中女當自強 |
| 16 June (Sun) | 6月16日 (日) | 14:30 | Best Kids Animation! | 最佳俄羅斯兒童動畫 |
| 16 June (Sun) | 6月16日 (日) | 17:20 | Chapiteau-Show (Part 1) | 同一帳篷下 (第1部分) |
| 16 June (Sun) | 6月16日 (日) | 19:30 | Chapiteau-Show (Part 2) | 同一帳篷下 (第2部分) |
| 17 June (Mon) | 6月17日 (一) | 19:30 | Elena | 母親的罪愛 |
| 18 June (Tue) | 6月18日 (二) | 19:30 | I’ll be around | 與你常在 |
| 19 June (Wed) | 6月19日 (三) | 19:00 | How I Ended This Summer | 這個夏天真太冷 |
| 20 June (Thur) | 6月20日 (四) | 19:30 | Rita’s Last Fairytale | 瘋癲的童話 |
Online ticketing: The Grand Cinema
PROGRAMME
Legend No. 17 / Легенда №17 [Opening Film]
Russia, 2013, 134 min, Biopic
Director: Nikolay Lebedev
Cast: Danila Kozlovskiy, Darya Ekamasova, Alejandra Grepi, Denis Serdyukov, Oleg Menshikov
22 September 1972. Montreal. The Soviet Union’s ice hockey team defeated the Canadian professionals in the opening match of the landmark Canada-USSR Series. This was not just a game; it was a battle for their country, and it changed how the world thought about hockey. Known simply by his number, 17, Valery Kharlamov rose to stardom. His dream had come true: perseverance, sporting talent and the hard lessons of his great coach Anatoly Tarasov had made ‘Number 17’ the legend of the world of hockey. This biopic charts the extraordinary life of Valery Kharlamov from early childhood, rising to the pinnacle of the sport and his untimely death. The film topped the box office chart when it first released in April 2013.
Love with an Accent / Любовь с акцентом
Russia, 2012, 100 min Comedy
Director: Rezo Gigineishvilli
Cast: Svetlana Bondarchuk, Filipp Yankovsky, Nadezhda Mikhalkova, Anna Mikhalkova, Nikita Efremov, Artur Smolyaninov, Irina Pegova, Olga Babluani, Duta Skhirtladze, Georgy Kipshidze
“All it takes is to get yourself to Georgia, and a man will find you.” Desperate for love, Helga, Anna Mikhalkova’s heroine, together with others, find it in the least expected circumstances. This beautiful and heart-warming film by Rezo Gigineishvili is composed of seven short love stories, and is about the love that goes beyond the limits set by age, nationality and social differences.
Golden Eagle Awards, Russia 2013: Best Actress (Anna Mikhalkova)
Kokoko / Кококо
Russia, 2012, 90 min, Drama
Director: Avdotia Smirnova
Cast: Anna Mikhalkova, Yana Troyanova, Konstantin Shelestun, Evgeniy Muravich
Town and country collide in this quirky and amusing tale of contrasts: Lisa and Vika seem to live in different worlds until a chance meeting brings them together and shows them how much they have in common and how much they can learn from each other. Lisa and Vika are two sides of the same coin, just like Russia itself. Kokoko is a never-ending comedy of Russian life!
Moscow International Film Festival 2012: Russian Film Clubs Federation Award
Kinotavr Festival 2012: Best Actress (Anna Mikhalkova, Yana Troyanova)
Chapiteau-Show / Шапито-Шоу
Russia, 2011, 107 min, Comedy
Director: Sergey Loban
Cast: Vera Strokova, Aleksey Podolskiy, Aleksey Znamenskiy, Sergey Kuzmento, Petr Mamonov
Four groups of eccentric outsiders converge on a Crimean resort in this intricate multi-story narrative from Sergei Loban. A prize winner at last year’s Moscow International Film Festival, Chapiteau-Show exudes a unique and magical style that will simply leave you spellbound. Four novellas about love, friendship, respect and collaboration can be watched in any order yet are interrelated to each other. Sergey Loban’s Chapiteau-Show tells the tale of a circus of outsiders whose lives are as chaotic and carnivalesque as the show that brings them together.
Moscow International Film Festival 2011: Special Jury Prize
Elena / Елена
Russia, 2011, 109 min, Drama
Director: Andrei Zvyagintsev
Cast: Nadezhda Markina, Andrey Smirnov
From the director of acclaimed films; The Return and The Banishment, Elena is Andrei Zvyagintsev’s next successful attempt telling the story of a timid housewife and her relationship with her aging husband and businessman, Vladimir. Elena met Vladimir a decade ago when she was a nurse taking care of him. Now, as his wife, she continues her caretaking role, but the gulf between the two’s backgrounds is soon evident by the introduction of each side’s respective family members.
Cannes Film Festival 2011: “Un Certain Regard” Special Jury Prize
I’ll Be Around / Я буду рядом
Russia, 2011, 93 min, Drama
Director: Pavel Ruminov
Cast: Maria Shalaeva, Roma Zenchuk, Maria Semkina, Ivan Volkov, Alisa Khazanova
Pavel Ruminov’s I’ll Be Around is the deeply moving story of a single mother’s struggle to secure a future for her son. The life of a young and successful restaurant manager, Inna, comes suddenly and unexpectedly crumbling down around her when she is diagnosed with an incurable illness. Though loved and respected by her colleagues, Inna’s inevitable death will be felt most greatly by her son Mitya. Determined not to leave him an orphan, Inna decides to seek new parents for her six-year-old. This endearing yet tragic story of friendship between mother and son shows how love can overcome mortality. In the face of their last farewell, Inna and Mitya must find a way to overcome the injustice that fate has so abruptly and prematurely thrown their way.
Kinotavr Film Festival 2012: Grand Prix
How I Ended This Summer / Как я провел этим летом
Russia, 2010, 124 min, Thriller
Director: Aleksey Popogrebsky
Cast: Grigory Dobrygin, Sergey Puskepalis, Igor Chernevich, Ilya Sobolev, Artem Tsukanov
Winner of two Silver Bears at the Berlin Film Festival for its actors and photography, and of the Best Film award in the 2010 London Film Festival, this film is set on a remote weather station in the Arctic manned by old hand Sergei and the novice Pavel. When Pavel receives an important radio message, his fear of the older man prevents him from telling Sergei the shocking news. From this deception, lies and suspicions poison relations between the two to such an extent that Pavel is in fear of his life, not just from the polar bears that roam the island, but from Sergei. Filmed entirely on location in one of the remotest places in the world, How I Ended This Summer becomes a stunning existential drama of survival.
Berlin Film Festival 2010: Best Actors Silver Berlin Bear (Grigory Dobrygin, Sergey Puskepalis)
Chicago International Film Festival 2010: Best Film
London Film Festival 2010: Best Film
Golden Eagle Awards, Russia 2010: Best Feature Film
Nika Awards: Best Director (Aleksey Popogrebsky)
Rita’s Last Tale / Последняя сказка Риты
Russia, 2012, 100 min, Fantasy/Drama
Director: Renata Litvinova
Cast: Tatyana Drubich, Olga Kuzina, Renata Litvinova, Nikolay Khomeriki
Renata Litinova’s latest film is a haunting fairy tale far beyond the world of the Brothers Grimm. Rita’s Last Tale takes the audience on a surreal journey in exploration of the universal themes of love, hate, and the search for happiness, as the turbulent lives of three women surrounded by darkness culminate in a decrepit hospital, its disintegrating walls the setting of an inescapable end for one…
Moscow International Film Festival 2012: Kommersant Weekend Prize
Nika Awards 2013: Best Supporting Actress (Tatyana Drubich)
The Best Russian Kids Animation
Russia, 58 min, Animation
Russian animation has an international reputation for its original artistic style and poetic storytelling. The Festival presents a programme of new works by award-winning Russian animators, to delight children and adults alike, with its witty charm and imagination
NOTES TO EDITOR
About UC RUSAL
UC RUSAL is a leading, global aluminium producer, in 2012 accounting for approximately 9% of global production of aluminium and 8% of alumina. UC RUSAL employs about 72,000 people in 19 countries, across 5 continents. The company’s core smelting capacities are located in Siberia, thus benefiting from the access to the renewable and environmentally clean hydropower and the proximity to the thriving market of China. UC RUSAL’s ordinary shares are listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock code: 486), global depositary shares representing UC RUSAL’s ordinary shares are listed on the professional compartment of Euronext Paris (RUSAL for Reg S GDSs and RUAL for Rule 144A GDSs), and Russian depositary receipts that are issued on common shares of the Company are listed on Moscow Exchange (RUALR/RUALRS).
www.rusal.com
About Academia Rossica
Academia Rossica is a cultural organisation set up in London in 2000 to promote Russian culture internationally. Academia Rossica’s projects include the biggest Russian film festivals abroad – The Russian Film Festival in London, SLOVO Russian Literature Festival, the ROSSICA Prize and the ROSSICA International Review of Russian Culture. Academia Rossica aims to present the best of contemporary Russian culture to the international audience.
www.academia-rossica.org