The opening ceremony of the XXI Kazan International Film Festival «Altyn Minbar» took place today in the new building of the Tatar State Academic Theater named after Galiaskar Kamal.
The opening ceremony was hosted by Honored Artists of the Republic of Tatarstan - Amir Akhmadishin and Rezeda Salyakhova.
Over the past two decades, the festival has become a significant part of cultural life, has received international recognition and has strengthened its reputation as a platform for serious professional dialogue. Today, «Altyn Minbar» remains true to its mission – to support spiritual values, develop cinema and unite people through art. The festival always remains true to the main principle that is expressed in its motto: “Through the dialogue of cultures – to the culture of dialogue.”
This year, the «Altyn Minbar» organizing committee received 845 applications from filmmakers from 67 countries. After the work of the selection committee, a competition program was formed, which included 54 films from 22 countries. For the first time, applications for participation were sent by filmmakers from Paraguay, Taiwan, Andorra, Colombia and New Guinea.
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Kazan International Film Festival «Altyn Minbar» Vasil Shaikhraziev delivered a welcoming speech: "Dear participants, jury members and honored guests, welcome to Kazan! Our beautiful city has long been a recognized venue for large-scale international forums covering various areas - from economics to sports. It is especially gratifying that, against the backdrop of this diversity, our film festival brings together more and more like-minded people from year to year. As part of the XXI Kazan Film Festival, we set an absolute record for the number of applications for participation, which testifies to the growing authority and significance of our cultural forum."
Vasil Shaikhraziev emphasized that «Altyn Minbar» is held with the support of the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, and read out a letter of greeting. “It is no coincidence that the film festival is held in the thousand-year-old Kazan, where the traditions of the East and West are closely intertwined at the junction of Islamic and Christian civilizations. Having become the home of the «Altyn Minbar» film festival, the capital of multinational Tatarstan invariably brings together friends and like-minded people, strengthening the cultural unity of the Muslim ummah and all people of good will. I sincerely wish the participants of the film festival bright creative achievements and new victories! Let it strengthen our noble aspiration for faith, peace, goodness, and justice,” the congratulatory letter of the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan noted.
Irada Ayupova was the guest of honor at the opening ceremony of the XXI Kazan Film Festival. “«Altyn Minbar» continues to carefully preserve and develop its unique traditions. For us, it is not just a film competition, but a deep study of films dedicated to the most important values of humanity - those moral guidelines that must be passed on to future generations. At the XIII Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, it was decided that Kazan will become the cultural capital of the Islamic world in 2026. It is extremely important to preserve the festival’s unchanged cultural code, which has become its calling card over the years of its existence,” noted Irada Khafizyanovna.
Also, as part of the opening ceremony, congratulatory words were read by the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova and the Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, President of the Kazan International Film Festival «Altyn Minbar”, Chief Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin.
The year 2025 in Russia has been declared the Year of the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The history of those events has been preserved largely thanks to cinema. Feature films and documentaries conveyed the truth about front-line roads and peaceful exploits. As a sign of memory, a song from the legendary film "The Cranes Are Flying" was performed by the choir under the direction of Dmitry Zheleznov.
Continuing the theme related to the feat of the defenders of the Fatherland, People's Artist of Russia, theater and film actress Elena Tsyplakova heartfeltly read the poem "Letter from the Front. Son", dedicated to a special military operation.
The concert program was decorated with musical numbers by the Chinese singer, Deputy Chairman of the European-Asian Cultural Association Wu Jingcan and a native of the Republic of Congo, singer, participant of the show "X-factor. Main stage" and the project "The Voice" Arsen Mukendi. The show-ballet of the Kazan Circus "Sandugach" demonstrated to the audience a virtuoso acrobatic performance, amazing the audience with its skill and artistry.
Lyubov Kazarnovskaya addressed the guests with a welcoming speech: "Good evening, beautiful Kazan! With all my heart I want to share with you how happy I am to be in this amazing city again. Each of my visits to the capital of Tatarstan, starting with the first International Opera Festival named after Fyodor Chaliapin, was filled with special warmth, sincere joy and sincere hospitality of the Kazan public. And today, after so many years, my arrival in a completely new capacity - as an "ambassador" of culture and cinema - has become a particularly significant and pleasant event for me." This year, festival viewers will be able to see Lyubov Kazarnovskaya on screen - in the film "Hotel Onegin" , where the actress played one of the main roles. The film is presented in the competition of "Full-length feature films".
During the ceremony, films from the main competition nominations were presented: "Full-length feature films", "Short feature films", "Documentaries", "Animated films" and "National competition". A presentation of films from the non-competition program "Russia - Islamic World" also took place.
The hosts announced the awards of the Kazan International Film Festival «Altyn Minbar»: "Best Directing of a Full-Length Feature Film", "Best Screenplay of a Full-Length Feature Film", "Best Cinematography of a Full-Length Feature Film", "Best Actor in a Full-Length Feature Film", "Best Actress in a Full-Length Feature Film", "Best Short Feature Film", "Best Documentary Film", "Best Animated Film", "Best National Film", "Best National Documentary Film", "Best Short National Film", "Best National Film for Children" and, finally, the Grand Prix "Best Full-Length Feature Film".
In addition to the main awards, special prizes are traditionally awarded within the framework of the festival. Among them are the Prize "For Faith in the Art of Cinema" named after the founder of the festival Zufar Bukharaev, the Prize of the Kazan City Hall, the Prize of the World Congress of Tatars, the Prize of the Guild of Film Scholars and Film Critics of Russia. Of particular importance is the Special Prize of the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan "For Humanism in Cinematography". Also, the jury members will present the Diploma "Special Mention of the Jury", and the audience will determine their winner - the owner of the Audience Award.
The final chord of the grand opening ceremony was the presentation of the jury of the XXI Kazan Film Festival. As a sign of special respect, they were presented with traditional national headdresses, which became a symbol of cultural exchange.
"On behalf of the «Altyn Minbar» jury, I welcome all the guests of the film festival! We are united by the most beautiful of arts - cinema. There is a misconception that Islamic culture is opposed to creativity and aesthetic pleasure. However, the history of cinema over the past four decades convincingly proves the opposite: it is the Islamic world that has become the cradle of humanistic ideas. Let us unite around a common religion - the religion of humanity and goodness, capable of overcoming any cultural and religious boundaries," emphasized the chairman of the jury, Indian sound engineer, who received an «Oscar» for the film «Slumdog Millionaire» Resul Pookutty.
Let us recall that the XXI Kazan International Film Festival «Altyn Minbar» is being held in the capital of Tatarstan from September 5 to 9. The motto of the forum is "Through the dialogue of cultures - to the culture of dialogue". «Altyn Minbar» is included in the list of film projects supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, and is being held with the support of the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the Ministry of Culture of Russia, as well as in partnership with the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia - Islamic World".
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: KIFF "Altyn Minbar"