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Will the First International Non-Traditional Film Festival Be Held in Russia?
by Maria Cheskis
February 4 2008, Nasha Versia
Original article in Russian

The country's lesbians, homosexuals, bisexuals, and transsexuals (LGBT) are planning to hold the first international non-traditional film festival in Russia in October. As soon as this news was out, it triggered quite a mixed reaction in the Russian society. The Russian Orthodox Church, as well as representatives of the film community, already spoke out in strong opposition. So the question is � do the gays and lesbians have a chance to hold their forum?

The topic of non-traditional love in Russian film is not on the list of the most popular, to put it lightly. For a long time, Russian filmmakers stayed away from the worldwide trend for making these kinds of films. One can count all the national movies with the "gay and lesbian" theme using fingers of one hand. Even if this topic is touched upon, it is done in a muffled, not an accentuated, manner. However, famous film festivals of the world, such as the Venice and the Sundance Film Festivals, introduced separate nominations for films about non-traditional love a long time ago. And now the Russian non-traditional minorities announce their intent to hold an international non-traditional film festival in Saint-Petersburg in October. The films accepted for participation reflect interrelations between members of sexual minorities. The Festival's program includes feature length films, documentaries, short films, and experimental and alternative works of authorship that gained world acceptance. An active search for festival sponsors is in progress. Irina Sergeeva, one of "Side by Side" Festival organizers, notes that "film is the best way to call society's attention to issues of people of non-traditional orientation. As a rule, moralists are afraid that non-traditional orientation will be imposed on them. We don't have such a goal - we are trying to help people that need it to survive."

On the other hand, some members of the cinematographic society have already reacted negatively to the mere fact of preparations for such a festival. The harshest remark with regards to the said event came from the People's Artist of Russia, chairman of the International Union of Slavic and Christian Orthodox Cinematographers, Nikolai Burlyaev. "Let the Western World take its own path to damnation and dechristianization, justifying indulgence of sin by some idea of tolerance. Russia has traditions and spiritual and moral values. I believe that organizing such an event in the year that we hold to be the Year of Family is a provocation. I will soon write a letter to the governor of Saint-Petersburg, Valentina Matvienko, expressing my opinion regarding holding of this so-called festival� The authorities needs to be firm and prevent it from being held in our country."

The Russian Orthodox Church is also speaking out in opposition of the festival. "Holding of such a festival threatens the moral standards, shared by our multiethnic people, and the public order," says the head of press relations service of the Moscow Patriarchate, Mikhail Moiseev. "No matter how much the organizers of the festival deny it, the festival is advocating homosexuality. This propaganda is especially dangerous for the youth, who are most susceptible to suggestion. And It's not unknown that this propaganda is first and foremost directed towards the youth and the teenagers. The aggressive nature of the promotion of homosexual notions, under the veil of protecting human rights, is clearly provocative in nature. These activists are least concerned with the rights of other people, not even considering that their conduct may be insulting to those around them. We don't have the right to forbid this film forum but we hope that the government will consider our opinion," clarifies Mikhail Moiseev.

Well-known actors speak about the festival in a more tolerant manner. Saint-Petersburg actor Anatoliy Ravikovich admits that he will not go to the festival and will not let his kids go. He finds to topic of the film forum unpleasant. However, he says, "there are other people that are not like me. If they don't do anything illegal, they have the right to it. So I don't think this festival has to be forbidden. We should not forget that there were many gays among the great filmmakers and actors." And the well-known filmmaker Aleksandr Sokurov and the singer Svetlana Surganova spoke out openly in support of the forum. But the last word on whether the festival is to be or not to be must be said by the governing administration. Head of the Saint-Petersburg Committee for Culture, Nikolay Burov, already stated that he would not interfere with this event. But the Saint-Petersburg governor Valentina Matvienko for now keeps her silence. Whether she is going to go against the public opinion, which, alas, is at the moment not favorable to the festival, or whether she is going to follow the example of Yuriy Luzhkov and firmly rebuff the "non-traditionals," is probably the principal intrigue of the whole brouhaha around the gay and lesbian film forum.

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