Development of Cinematography in BRICS Countries - the main topic of the Spirit of Fire Festival

On 23-26 March the 22nd Spirit of Fire International Debut Film Festival was held in Khanty-Mansiysk. The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s BRICS Chairship and serves as communication partner for the festival.

The main theme of the business programme of the festival was ‘The Special Language of National Cinema of BRICS Countries’. Five sessions were held as part of the business programme, including the plenary session “Connecting Bridges. Intercultural Dialogue and New BRICS+ Partnerships’, and Russia–Iran Film Dialogue.

The educational programme of the Spirit of Fire Academy focused on practical exercises while maintaining a high level of theoretical training for students and featured five master classes. The events of the business and educational programme were attended by over 200 festival participants. Over 1 million viewers watched broadcasts of the sessions.

“The business programme events provided festival participants with a comfortable communication platform to study the best practices of the contemporary film industry. There is an emphasis on developing cooperation with BRICS member states due to the similar attitudes that the peoples of these countries have towards traditional moral values, taking into account all the differences in culture, as they are united by a similar approach towards preserving their own unique cultural code and national identity,” Adviser to the Russian President Anton Kobyakov said.

“Cinematography is one of the most promising and wide-reaching areas of cooperation between BRICS countries in cultural affairs. Collaboration in cinematography is multifaceted. Developing and intensifying cooperation in this regard will certainly contribute to the further expansion of mutual cultural exchanges, and holding such film festivals will facilitate the establishment of contacts and connections between representatives of the film industry and cinematography, as well as the exchange of experience and best practices in the creation and implementation of film projects. I firmly believe that this festival has made a significant contribution to expanding and deepening interaction between BRICS countries in this important area,” UAE Ambassador to Russia Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Al Jaber said.

“Our festival has been integrated into the global film agenda, and we consciously choose the promotion of cultural and historical values and the creative heritage of the countries that take part in the festival as our area of expertise. All the conditions have been created to support joint projects with BRICS countries. Work is wrapping up on a joint project with India under the working title ‘Snow Flower’, which was filmed in Yugra, we have also provided equipment for filming, and an agreement has been concluded on the implementation of another project called ‘Pearls’. The film will be filmed in Moscow, Mumbai, and Khanty-Mansiysk. I am certain that the Russia-Iran Film Dialogue will create conditions for the implementation of new projects. The foundation for the success of our cooperation lies in mutual trust, which is demonstrated by the atmosphere of the ‘Spirit of Fire’,” Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District–Yugra Governor Natalya Komarova said.

The business programme discussions were attended by Russian and international industry leaders, media managers, and public figures, who discussed specific ways to develop film industries in BRICS countries, issues concerning joint film production, content promotion, the practice of mutual film screenings, the creation of professional exchange programmes, issues of national film distribution, and measures to preserve heritage and national identity.

The cultural and educational programme of the Spirit of Fire Festival was prepared with the assistance of the general partner, Gazprom Neft, which has been supporting the festival for 18 years. In 2024, per tradition, the company presented awards for the best Russian film in the special category ‘For the Preservation of Cultural Traditions’.

The programme partner is VKontakte, the event’s main social network and streaming service.