Moscow International Film Festival
The International Film Festival Moscow (short: IFF Moscow, Russian Московский международный кинофестиваль ) is the only one classified as an A- Festival Film festival in Russia. It takes place every year in late June and is accredited as an international film festival with competition since 1972 when film producers association FIAPF.
History
The Moscow Film Festival is only three years younger than the oldest film festival in the world, the Film Festival in Venice. It was first held in 1935 on the initiative of the then head of state Joseph Stalin. The first jury president was the director Sergei Eisenstein. Movie awards then won, among other Walt Disney and René Clair.
The second festival was held again until 1959. Since then it has been organized every odd year to 1995, then annually since 1995.
First time in 1989 was the Golden St. George (from 2004 Golden George) - the figure on the coat of arms of Moscow - awarded the main prize of the international competition. In the first years of the award ceremonies but mostly went to western countries, in the years 2004, 2005 and 2007 productions from Russia. Since 1997, there will be a forum for young filmmakers at the festival.
The International Film Festival in Moscow is officially hosted by the Russian government. Festival president since 2000, the film director Nikita Mikhalkov. The festival aims to promote the cultural exchange between nations and to move the filmmakers in the world to more international cooperation. The last edition took place from 23 June to 2 July 2011 and was attended by 60,000 spectators, according to organizers. Jury president in 2011 was the American- British actress Geraldine Chaplin.