Films of SPUFT students won prizes at the VI International Chinese Festival in Fuzhou

The jury of the first student film project competition “One belt One Road”, which was held as part of the 6th Silk Way International Chinese Film Festival, noted two films by students of St. Petersburg State University of Film and Television. In the competition program, the main prizes for “Best Feature Film” and “Best Documentary Film” were awarded to the works of “Harakiri” by Roman Blatman and “Silent Voices” by Anastasia Kozhevnikova.

The Silk Road International Film Festival is held annually (alternately in Fuzhou and Xi'an) by the leadership of the China Cinematography Council. The festival is sponsored by the People's Government of Fujian and the People's Government of Shaanxi. Annually, more than a hundred Chinese and foreign films participate in the festival program. Several events were held at the main venue in Fuzhou, including opening ceremony, award ceremony, film screenings, film forum, film market and cultural events for citizens. The competition of student films “One belt one Road” was held for the first time this year. The initiators and organizers of the competition were China University of Communications.

The general director of Silk Road Media Group, a member of the jury, Grigory Pelman shared his impressions of the festival:

– Over 300 student works were sent to the competition. It was a tremendous job, but at the same time, it was an incredible pleasure to select the shortlisted films and, of course, choose the best films in each of the nominations. It is amazing how young people feel the trends of our time, how, through their own films, they feel and represent spiritual values. All this is a significant contribution to the world cinema.

Films of SPUFT students "Silent Voices" and "Harakiri" won the main prizes in two categories "Best Documentary" and "Best Feature Film". Thanks to the enormous work done by our students Anna Shatova, the sound engineer of Harakiri (V. Persov and M. Sheinman’s workshop), Maria Vasilyeva, producer of the Harakiri film, Ilya Belokonsky, sound producer of the Silent Voices (A. Hasan-Zade, E. Sladkovskaya, T. Erzova and V. Ozemkova's workshop) films managed to be brought to the international level.

“Silent Voices” is a kaleidoscope of stories of the older generation, which with special warmth recalls summer shifts in pioneer camps. This is a separate life filled with bright colors, carefree laughter and real emotions. The director of the film, Anastasia Kozhevnikova, made a special emphasis on preserving such childhood memories which become more elusive with each new year lived.

Roman Blatman’s film (workshop of K. Gevorgyan) “Harakiri” is a vivid and dynamic biography of a young poet whose life in a communal apartment in St. Petersburg constantly presents the hero with various tests. The young man is forced to face and overcome disappointment and suicidal thoughts, to challenge mythical forces and domestic problems in order to earn the love of a girl living in the neighborhood.

Films of students and graduates of St. Petersburg State University of Film and Television regularly win the main prizes not only at domestic, but also at foreign film festivals. This suggests that young filmmakers make films on relevant topics that can interest a wide international audience. We wish students continued success!

SPUFT Information Service