The Russian film festival “Window to Europe” opened for the 18th time in Vyborg, Russia, on August 8, RIA Novosti reports. August 9 was the first working day of the festival, with showings of two films participating in the competitive program: Andrei Kavun’s “For Children under 16” and Lyudmila Gladunko’s “For Those Beginning to Love”.
“The film ‘For Children under 16’ is about those who have just crossed the threshold from childhood to adult life,” Kavun said. “What was earlier off limits is now allowed, and they embrace this forbidden fruit without thinking of the consequences. But they remain children, despite having officially become adults. In our film the main theme is first love, first confessions, first disappointments and betrayals. When you are 16-17 year old, the main reason for existence is love. But our film is not a sweet fairytale – it is a rather harsh story.”
The second film in the competitive program is also about love. But director Ludmila Gladunko says it is directed not only at young people but to people of all ages, for whom it is important to try to begin to love. “Are film is about the immortal and most important theme – an all-encompassing understanding of ‘love’,” says Gladunko.
On the evening of August 8, renowned actress Lyudmila Gurchenko present her first film in which her main role was that of the director – “Spotted Twilight”.
Following tradition, the Window to Europe Festival has three separate programs – Feature Films, Documentary Films and Animated Films. Each program has its own jury. The competitive program of feature films includes 11 movies and will be evaluated by a jury chaired by Andrei Khrzhanovsky. A viewer’s prize is also planned.
According to Voice of Russia, film critics say that this year’s favorites in the feature film competition are Stanislav Govorukhin’s “In Jazz Style”, Alexei Balabanov’s criminal drama “The Stoker” and Andrei Kavun’s “For Children under 16” (which won the Grand Prix of the Odessa International Film Festival).
