The Festival of Festivals is an international fiction film festival that takes place annually in St. Petersburg on June 23-29. In 2000, the city authorities classified it as one of the most significant cultural events in the city.
The first International Film Festival was held in 1993. Within its framework, films were shown in the cinemas "Coliseum", "Aurora", "Ruslan" (Pushkin) and "Spartak". The event was divided into three categories: "Festival of Festivals", "Unknown Lenfilm" and "New Cinema of St. Petersburg".
The festival program included domestic and foreign films. The American avant-garde program presented by producer Abigail Child was of great interest, according to many journalists. In particular, many were interested in her last section, entitled "Sex and Sex", containing, among others, the film "Song of Love" by the playwright Jean Genet. Also at the festival took place the premiere of the comedy "Captives of Fortune" directed by Maxim Pezhemsky, the film "Nicotine" was shown, which received a very controversial assessment of journalists and film critics.
The founders of the International Fiction Film Festival are: the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation; Lenfilm studio"; Committee for Culture of St. Petersburg; Public organization "St. Petersburg" Festival of Festivals ".
The program of the film festival includes the following sections: "Festival of Festivals" - organizing the screening of the best feature films that are participants and prize-winners of International Film Festivals; "Short Film" - screenings of short and animated films by novice directors from different countries; "New Cinema of Russia" - the latest Russian fiction films; "Retrospectives" and "Special Screenings".
The prizes of the festival are: Grand Prix "Golden Griffin" - a picture that received the highest praise from guests and participants of the Festival; The Silver Griffin is the Audience Award; The Bronze Griffin - awarded for the best experimental film; "The Prize of the City of St. Petersburg" is awarded to a nominee for his creative contribution to the development of world cinema and active work in the field of international, cultural cooperation; “Prize of Creative Support to them. Nikolay Ovsyannikov "is awarded for the best debut; prize "For Talent and Popular Recognition" and "Prize of the Directorate" - for the best selection of films. Prize winners are selected by a vote of the audience and the jury.
In 2012 the festival will take place from 23.06.2012 to 29.06.2012. The venues will be the cinema centers of St. Petersburg: Rodina, Dom Kino; Cultural Center "Cascade", Center for Contemporary Art. Kuryokhin.
