The film ‘2000 Songs of Farida’ depicts the events that took place at the beginning of the XX century. There is a civil war in Central Asia, the Emirate and Khanates are about to collapse. Civilians live in fear of their uncertain future and the impending power of the Bolsheviks. A cloud of dust of the bygone era and upcoming changes wafts across Trasokiana. But this does not seem to bother Komil, since he – an old renegade of society – lives on the edge of everything: his time, worldly concerns, society, values of the rich and the poor. His will is different, his desire lies elsewhere. He pursues nothing but his only hope – to have his continuation, his descendant and next generation, his unborn child. But time is the executioner. It is ruthless, giving no time to undo the past. So can old Komil overcome this limit? Will he be able to survive on the brink of a brutal new time?
The old man’s young wife, who has been proposed to him as a wife by her father because of out-of-class love (the girl of a palace retinue has dared to fall in love with a simple clerk), is not only notable for wearing rich outfits and living in a separate room. Farida has snow-white skin and meek disposition. She tries not to argue with other wives of her husband, who is particularly cruel and unscrupulous.
However, when Komil’s favourite wife Rabia runs away from him, unable to cope with her jealousy, the old man’s world view changes. He releases Farida with her betrothed and sends a young wagtail with them. In addition to the carriage, the orphaned man gives his life savings so that the travelers will not starve to death on their way.
Alone, he meets new power, accepting death at the hands of his beloved Rabia…
The Kazakh film ’18 Kilohertz’ directed by Farkhat Sharipov won the main prize of the Muslim Film Festival. The film is based on the book ‘Hardcore’ by Kazakh writer Zara Yesenaman. 18 KHz is a sound frequency inaudible to adults. In the 1990s there was a heroine boom in Almaty. Drugs are widely available, including to teenagers. Best friends Sanzhar and Zhaga spend a lot of time together, dreaming of freedom and discovering all forbidden places with a ‘No Entry Allowed’ sign. Everything is not that well at Sanzhara’s house. He is not so close with his mother. She has lost her precious ring and suspects Sanzhara of it. She stops talking to him and their already tenuous bond breaks down. Drug dealers are always on the lookout for lonely teenagers.
As Vasil Shaikhraziev, Chairman of the Milli Shura National Council of the World Congress of Tatars and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Festival, noted in his welcoming speech, every year the film festival is a blank sheet, on which a plan is written out to make the film festival even more interesting, whom to invite and how to surprise the audience. ‘Last year, due to the pandemic, we held the film forum remotely, but this year, by the will of God, filmmakers have managed to come to us. During the days of the film festival, we have been able to rally together, show the films to a large number of viewers and discuss them after the screenings. We have managed to organize a great holiday for our guests and residents. It turned out to be not just a film screening, but a social gathering. The pandemic has limited our communication, so this event has become a good opportunity not just to see the films by directors from different parts of the world, but also to discuss these films, share our concerns and outline areas for further cooperation. It is nice that Tatarstan cinema is growing along with the festival. Before closing this year’s film forum, we have already started planning the next one’, Shaikhraziev said.
Elena Alekseeva, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Film and Television Directing at the Kazan State Institute of Culture, received the diploma ‘For Contribution to the Development of Cinematography of the Republic of Tatarstan’. Guzel Sagitova, Deputy Head of the Kazan’s Executive Committee, presented the Mayor of Kazan Prize to Tatarstan Director Bulat Minkin for his film ‘Beruze’ (‘Alone’).
This year it was decided to award the Audience Award to three films at once. Two diplomas were awarded by the Executive Director of the Kazan Film Festival, Milyausha Aituganova: they were given to Alina Galimullina, the director of the film ‘Kakheksiya’, and Ilfat Kamaliev, the author of the film ‘Psychic’.
The main Audience Award was given to the film ‘Isenmesez’ by Ildar Yagafarov.
The winners of the Kazan International Muslim Film Festival-2021 in the National Competition nomination were announced by Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan Irada Ayupova and First Deputy Mufti of the Republic of Tatarstan Ilfar Hazrat Khasanov. Irada Ayupova thanked the guests for their visit to Tatarstan. ‘The main mission of culture is to preserve the spiritual core of a nation. I sincerely wish that this festival will have a long history because it is one of a few film festivals which are not afraid to raise spiritual and moral problems of society, to talk about them openly and urge people to become better every day’, she highlighted.
In his turn, Ilfar Hazrat Khasanov conveyed warm greetings on behalf of Mufti of Tatarstan Kamil Hazrat Samigullin and wished all the participants and guests of the festival health and further fruitful work. ‘The most important thing for us today is to preserve and multiply our culture, traditions and customs, convey to the younger generation the importance of following the covenant of our ancestors. We ought to respect and be proud of our own rich national and cultural heritage’, Ilfar Hazrat concluded.
Elena Yermolina and Evgeny Tishkin’s film ‘Into the Forest for Aspen’ was recognized as the best national film for children. Galiyabanu Bakhtiyarova’s film ‘Airat Means Amazing’ won Best National Short-Length Film. The award for best documentary national film was given to the documentary ‘Be Happy’, directed by Natalya Topal. Ainur Zinnatov’s film ‘Coolness of Eyes’ was awarded the status of the best national film.
The best short-length documentary film of the Kazan Film Festival was awarded to the film ‘Parizad’, directed by Mehdi Imani Shakhmari (Iran). The winner was awarded by the jury member Kamal Svarup (India). Another jury member, Ashraf Abu Al-Yazid (Egypt) presented the award for best full-length documentary. The winner was Almaz Nurgaliev’s film ‘Between Seven Islands’.
Best short-length feature film of the XVII Kazan International Muslim Film Festival became the film ‘Two Options’ directed by Gon Karid (France, Spain).
The best screenwriter of a feature film was Habib Bavi Sadjed (Iran), screenwriter of the film ‘Sami’. Alexander Plotnikov (Kazakhstan), the cameraman of the film ’18 Kilohertz’, won the award in the Best Cinematography of a Feature Film category.
The best male performer in a full-length feature film was Turkish actor Samet Yildiz from the film ‘Brother’s Keeper’. Ismet Erikan, Consul General of the Republic of Turkey to Kazan, came to the stage to receive the award. He noted that the performer of the main role in the film was in school at that moment. ‘The word ‘Yildiz’ means ‘Star’ and ‘Samet’ is translated as ‘Infinite’. I wish this actor to shine endlessly like this heavenly body’, the Consul said.
The famous Turkish actor Ali Burak Ceylan, a special guest of the film festival, awarded the winner in the Best Female Role in a Full-Length Feature Film category. She was Svetlana Yancheva (Bulgaria), an actress from the film ‘Fear’.
Ilmira Gafiyatullina
