15 June, 2013
(Press release sent by Cultural Connections on behalf of UC RUSAL)
A Glittering Opening Night for “Russia Through the Big Screen”
Inaugural Russian Film Festival in Hong Kong
Unveiled by Nikolay Lebedev and his Legend No. 17
Presented by UC RUSAL, a leading, global aluminium producer, and organized by Academia Rossica, an organisation to promote Russian culture, “Russia Through the Big Screen,” the First Russian Film Festival in Hong Kong celebrated its official launch on 14 June with the Gala Premiere of Legend No. 17, the latest work by the renowned award-winning director Mr. Nikolay Lebedev.
Mr. Nikolay Lebedev, director of the opening film Legend No. 17, Mr. Matthias Warnig, Chairman of UC RUSAL, Mr. Vladimir A. Kalinin, Consul General of the Russian Consulate in Hong Kong and Mrs. Svetlana Adjoubei, Director of Academia Rossica officiated the opening ceremony yesterday at The Grand Cinema to launch the seven-day film festival which will take place from 14 till 20 June 2013.
As one of the most widely-recognised Russian directors and a pioneer in Russian contemporary cinema, Lebedev is best-known as the author of thrillers Snake Source, Admirer, Passion Soundtrack and The Star. His picture The Star was featured at multiple international and domestic festivals, receiving numerous awards and other prizes.
At the opening ceremony, Mr. Nikolay Lebedev introduced his newest work Legend No. 17, and he shared with the audience inspiration and stories behind it. This biopic charts the extraordinary life of Soviet Union’s ice hockey star Valery Kharlamov from early childhood, rising to the pinnacle of his sport and his untimely death. The film topped the box office chart when it was first released in April 2013 with receipts of 920 million rubles (USD28.75 million) in total, with a total viewing audience of 4.2 million to date.
Legend No. 17 was recently awarded the Audience Prize at the Kinotavr Film Festival held in Sochi Russia, which is the largest national film festival in Russia, proving its popularity. The film was just as enthusiastically welcomed by the Hong Kong public, attracting an audience of more than 500 to the cinema last night. The overwhelming audience responses prompted the organiser to open a third theatre hall for the film festival.
Other films at the first-ever Russian Film Festival in Hong Kong generated encouraging interest. A full house was achieved more than one week before the opening ceremony. Also, film tickets of The Best Russian Kids Animation, Love with an Accent, and How I Ended this Summer have been almost sold out.
Ms. Vera Kurochkina, Deputy CEO of UC RUSAL, said, “We are delighted to have invited Mr. Nikolay Lebedev, the director of Legend No. 17, to attend our ceremony and share our joy of the success of the Russian Film Festival. We hope everyone enjoyed our event. This First Russian Film Festival in Hong Kong takes the cultural exchange between Russia and Hong Kong to the next level. It is a unique chance to immerse yourself in the rich diversity of Russia’s cinematic culture.”
Mrs. Svetlana Adjoubei, Director of Academia Rossica, added, “We are delighted with the keen response from the general public in Hong Kong towards Russian movies, a cultural legacy of which we as Russians are most proud. We are particularly pleased to present this prestigious cultural event showcasing the finest in contemporary Russian cinema over the next seven days. Cinema as an art is undoubtedly an ideal way in every respect to demonstrate the richness of our country’s culture.”
The First Russian Film Festival will run for seven days from 14-20 June, featuring nine films, offering a diverse set of genres and themes of the most illustrious Russian movies. Six of the viewings are international or Hong Kong premieres. For the full list of film titles for the festival, please refer to www.russianfilms.org. All films are in Russian with English subtitles
Photos of Opening: [Download]
NOTES TO EDITOR
About “Russia Though the Big Screen”
“Russia Though the Big Screen”, the First Russian Film Festival in Hong Kong presents the very best in contemporary Russian cinema, featuring acclaimed films and directors, winners of some of the most prestigious awards in Russia and internationally.
This window into modern Russia will surprise Hong Kong audiences with originality, diversity and dynamism of Russian cinema and the characters it features. From poetic parables to perceptive drama, from comedy to thriller and fantasy, the Festival offers a diversity of genres and themes, ensuring there is something for everyone.
“Russia Though the Big Screen,” is organised by Academia Rossica in partnership with UC RUSAL. Special thanks for organisational support to the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in the Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR, PRC and Asia To Go (Hong Kong).
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