Russian films get arthouse screenings

In an effort to enhance cultural exchange between Chinese and Russian artists, an exhibition showcasing a selection of Russian movies kicked off at the China Film Art Research Center's arthouse cinemas on Tuesday.

The Russian Film Festival will be held in three cities: Beijing, Heihe in Heilongjiang province, and Suzhou in Jiangsu province, and will run until Sept 2.

The lineup encompasses multiple genres and includes acclaimed films such as The Whaler Boy, which received the Venice Days Director's Award at the 2020 Venice Film Festival, and the sports movie Eleven Silent Men, adapted from the true story of Dynamo Moscow, a former Soviet soccer team that traveled to the United Kingdom to play four matches in 1945.

Lin Siwei, deputy head of the China Film Art Research Center, said that China and Russia have a long-standing history of friendship.

"Both are major film-producing countries, making unique contributions to the development of world cinema," said Lin.

"We hope that through exhibitions and mutual cooperation, more opportunities will be created, allowing the art of filmmaking to play a crucial role in promoting cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and Russia," he added.