32 films created in Abkhazia, Russia and countries of Western Europe will take part in the competition program.

The State Russian Drama Theater of F. Iskander held the opening of the I Sukhum International Film Festival (SIFF). The event was attended by festival participants from Abkhazia, Russia and Europe, as well as government representatives. The opening of the festival was visited by President of Abkhazia Raul Khajimba. 

Welcoming the participants and guests of the festival, Raul Khajimba noted: "Events of this genre are held for the first time in Abkhazia. This is a real festival of cinema for the republic. I am sure that the participants of the film festival will demonstrate their bright talents, and an impartial jury will be able to determine who is the best and who else should work on themselves. Abkhazia has always been famous for its opportunities in the film industry, but the last time we are forgotten. I hope that the beginning of the flourishing the Abkhazian film industry has already been laid. "
  
The organizer of the Sukhum International Film Festival is the State Committee on Youth Policy of the Republic of Abkhazia. 
   
As Chairman of the State Committee Teimuraz Kvekveskiri told Apsnypress, the main goals of the film festival are the development of cultural exchange between countries and the support of young cinematographers. 
  
The festival management received more than 3 thousand applications from different countries, of which 32 films were selected. The contest program selected 32 films created in Abkhazia, Russia, Western Europe (Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, etc.), as well as in Uzbekistan, Iran and Morocco. The 2018 program will consist only of short feature films. However, in the following years the festival will be open for full-length and documentary films. 
  
The first Sukhum International Film Festival will be held from 2 to 6 April 2018. The SIFF program competition consists of short feature films. Within the framework of the festival there will be special film screenings, master classes by Mikhail Mestetsky and Nigina Sayfullaeva, as well as a roundtable discussion on "Who needs a short length, except the director?" 

The winners of the contest will be awarded with prizes-figurines and monetary awards: grand prix for the best film (award - 200 thousand rubles); second place (100 thousand rubles.); third place (50 thousand rubles.) Also prizes will be played in the nominations: "best director's work", "best camerawork", "best script", "best actor". Competition films at the first Sukhum International Film Festival will be evaluated by Russian and Abkhaz cinematographers. The jury chairman is the film director, scriptwriter and producer Anna Melikyan. Members of the jury: director, screenwriter, actor, member of the Union of Cinematographers of Russia, teacher of VGIK and VKSR - Vladimir Fenchenko; producer and actress - Elena Glickman;  a film director, screenwriter, editor and composer - Mikhail Mestetsky; Honored Artist of Russia, director of theater and cinema - Sergey Puskepalis; People's Artist of Abkhazia, film director, screenwriter, member of the Union of Cinematographers of Russia, director of the film studio "Abkhazfilm" - Vyacheslav Ablotiya.

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