March 6, 2026
Imtiaz-Ali-is-the-Ambassador-of-the-Russian-Film-Festival-in-India1-6

BCR NEWS/MUMBAI: The first of itтАЩs kind Russian Film Festival has come to a close after a successful run and well received response on IndiaтАЩs biggest OTT platform Disney + Hotstar. Having showcased the best of contemporary Russian films from October 16, film fans and aficionados of world cinema got an opportunity to enjoy entertaining and award winning stories with a unique flavor and global appeal. Ten films┬аwere shown with English subtitles and┬аenjoyed a solid run on this platform with growing interest from Indian audiences.

As ambassador of this film festival, prominent filmmaker and screenwriter Imtiaz Ali said, тАЬThe Russian film Festival brought very interesting And entertaining films Which were appreciated by Viewers in India, reiterating the fact that good human stories connect with all audiences. This festival Opens doors to many such festivals of Russian films in IndiaтАЭ

Sarfraz Alam, Festival Director, added,┬атАЬThe Russian Film Festival establishes the fact that both India and Russia have a deep love for good cinema. As both Disney + Hotstar, filmmakers who showed their work & Roskino have found this experience enriching, we hope to collaborate on more such cinema related events.тАЭ

Sarfraz Alam, Festival Director

The┬аfestival┬аshowed celebrated and popular romances, dramas, and comedies from Russia. It featured two musical romance movies (the genre that is well received by the Indian audience) – тАЬIceтАЭ by Oleg Trofim and its sequel тАЬIce 2тАЭ by Zhora Kryzhovnikov.┬атАЬIce,тАЭ┬аtells about a young, ambitious figure skater Nadya who is hospitalized with an injury and gives up her championship dream until she meets a hockey player Sasha… In┬атАЬIce 2тАЭ,┬аa happily married couple dreams about a child, but the price they pay for their dream is too high…┬а Both films are included in the TOP 12 highest-grossing┬аRussian┬аfilms of all time.

Other films shown here- The sports drama тАЬOn the EdgeтАЭ by Eduard Bordukov is based on a true story of the 2016 Olympic Games, тАУ the confrontation between two Russian saber fencers: Sofya Velikaya and Yana Egoyan. The historical drama тАЬThe Story of an AppointmentтАЭ by Avdotya Smirnova; set in the 19th century, an edgy story based on real events unfolds in this acclaimed film. One of the characters is the Great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. The selection also includes the drama тАЬTell HerтАЭ by Alexander Molochnikov. This is a film about failed relationships and a childтАЩs tough choice around divorcing parents. The biographical drama тАЬDoctor LizaтАЭ by Oksana Karas, dedicated to the memory of Elizaveta Glinka, one of the main human rights defenders and social activists in Russia.

The festival also featured comedies. A comedy absurdist drama, an adaptation of the play of the same name by Dmitry Danilov тАЬA Man from PodolskтАЭ тАУ the debut of the theatre director Semyon Serzin, who also played the lead role in the PetrovтАЩs Flu, a film of the Official Selection of the 74th Cannes Film Festival. Also, the selection of films includes the comedy тАЬAnother Woman!тАЭ by Anna Parmas about a wife fighting to keep the marriage after she learns of her husbandтАЩs infidelity. A family taking a test for strength is also in the spotlight in another film тАЬThe RelativesтАЭ by Ilya Aksyonov. A new dramedy тАЬJetlagтАЭ by Michael Idov tells a story about a couple that has a fight en route to an airport. As a result, they end up on different continents in separate love triangles, causing chaos in others’ relationships as they try to fix theirs.

The first-ever online┬аRussian┬аFilm┬аFestival┬аin India is organized by ROSKINO with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the┬аRussian┬аFederation, the Cinema Fund, the Moscow City Tourism Committee, Discover Moscow,┬аRossotrudnichestvo, and with the assistance of Kartina Entertainment. The┬аfestival┬аwas launched in 2020 and has already been successfully held in 18 countries, with more than 240 thousand viewers.

Ajay Shastri (Editor / Publisher) Bollywood Cine Reporter and BCR NEWS

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