Major Platinum Cineplex cinema in Vientiane is providing free screenings of the films as part
of the Russian Film Festival (RFF)
From April 21 to April 23, Russian Film Festival invites all cinema fans to screenings of
contemporary Russian films. The festival program includes five films: romantic comedies and
dramas, family films, and animation. Laos is a new direction in the geography of Russian Film
Festival, which has already visited 30 countries around the world. RFF in Laos, organized by
ROSKINO with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Russian
Center of Science and Culture in Laos.
Vladimir Kalinin, Russian Ambassador to Laos: “In 2023, Russia and Laos will celebrate 63 years
since the establishment of diplomatic relations. We are actively developing cultural and humanitarian
cooperation and welcome the opportunity to organize Russian Film Festival in Laos. This is an important
cultural mission that will introduce contemporary Russian films to the people of Laos. In Laos, Russia
and its culture are warmly welcomed, and I am sure that Laotian viewers will be happy to know more
about Russian actors and directors, especially since themes of the films of the RFF program are
universal—love, friendship, striving for a dream, and mutual support.”
Alexander Radkov, Head of the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Laos: “Since the
establishment of the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Laos in 2013, the development of bilateral
cooperation, the promotion of Russian culture, and the acquaintance of Laotians with modern Russia
cinema have been especially important. Film, perhaps, is one of the most accessible and understandable
languages for broadcasting cultural values and getting to know the mentality of different countries, and
we are glad to be partners of RFF. Laos is a country where its own film industry is at the initial stage of
development, while cinema as a form of leisure is loved here, and we hope that the RFF will attract a
large number of viewers and help viewers learn more about the life of modern Russia.”
Russian Film Festival Program
An excellent start to the weekend for film lovers will be the evening screening of the musical sports
drama Ice, which will open the Festival on Friday, April 21 The film directed by Oleg Trofim, which
was released in cinemas in early 2018, tells the story of a figure skater, Nadia, who, thanks to faith and
perseverance, achieves great success. However, when her dreams of high-profile victories, a wonderful
life, and a handsome prince already seem ready to come true, fate presents a real test. The film was in the
top three most popular Russian films abroad in 2018, collecting the largest box office in China, and in
2020 its sequel Ice 2 was in the top ten Russian films in terms of box office internationally. At the end of
2022, the producers announced that the third part of the successful franchise would also be filmed.
Another drama in the RFF program is the family adventure film A Dog Named Palma (2021), directed
by Alexander Domogarov Jr. This is a story based on real events. According to the plot, Palma, a
German shepherd, is forced to part with his owner who flies abroad. The faithful dog is left behind right
on the airfield. Palma meets the planes every day in the hope that his owner has returned. Meanwhile, 9-
year-old Kolya is also new at the airport. He lost his mother and moved in with his father, a pilot he
barely knows. Palma becomes a kindred spirit and best friend for the boy. The film is already familiar to
viewers in different countries: the film was released in cinemas in China, and in Japan it became the
highest grossing Russian film in the past 20 years. The rights to the film were sold in 20 countries around
the world. At RFF in Thailand, which took place in 2023, A Dog Named Palma attracted record numbers
of viewers.
For a romantic mood the Russian Film Festival offers two comedies Desperate for Marriage and
Russian South. Desperate for Marriage, directed by Sonya Karpunina, was released in Russian cinemas
in March 2022 and immediately became the biggest comedy of the season. This is a story about a
journalist for whom everything is going according to plan: she works as a TV presenter and has a
successful and rich fiancé. The plan is shattered when a chance encounter sets off a series of events which
completely changes her life. The comedy participated in RFF 2022 in Brazil, Mexico, Serbia, and
Thailand
Russian South by Anton Fedotov takes viewers to the coast of the Black Sea in summer and plunges
them into a world of passions. Artem, a student, falls in love with a young beauty from the Black Sea.
Having lost his head, he gives up everything and moves—for the sake of his beloved—to the Russian
South, a place he knows nothing about. It turns out that the beautiful Ksyusha is already being pursued by
two serious local competitors. It seems that the naive student simply has no chance, but he is not going to
give up.
For young viewers, the festival will show the full-length cartoon Horse Julius on the Throne and the
Three Heroes from directors Darina Schmidt and Konstantin Feoktistov. This is a story about Julius the
Horse, who becomes the protagonist of incredible adventures.
Screening schedule at the Major Platinum Cineplex:
April 21 (Friday):
Ice (closed screenings)
April 22 (Saturday):
11:00 Horse Julius on the Throne and the Three Heroes
15:00 A Dog Named Palma
April 23 (Sunday):
11:00 Russian South
15:00 Desperate for Marriage
of the Russian Film Festival (RFF)
From April 21 to April 23, Russian Film Festival invites all cinema fans to screenings of
contemporary Russian films. The festival program includes five films: romantic comedies and
dramas, family films, and animation. Laos is a new direction in the geography of Russian Film
Festival, which has already visited 30 countries around the world. RFF in Laos, organized by
ROSKINO with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Russian
Center of Science and Culture in Laos.
Vladimir Kalinin, Russian Ambassador to Laos: “In 2023, Russia and Laos will celebrate 63 years
since the establishment of diplomatic relations. We are actively developing cultural and humanitarian
cooperation and welcome the opportunity to organize Russian Film Festival in Laos. This is an important
cultural mission that will introduce contemporary Russian films to the people of Laos. In Laos, Russia
and its culture are warmly welcomed, and I am sure that Laotian viewers will be happy to know more
about Russian actors and directors, especially since themes of the films of the RFF program are
universal—love, friendship, striving for a dream, and mutual support.”
Alexander Radkov, Head of the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Laos: “Since the
establishment of the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Laos in 2013, the development of bilateral
cooperation, the promotion of Russian culture, and the acquaintance of Laotians with modern Russia
cinema have been especially important. Film, perhaps, is one of the most accessible and understandable
languages for broadcasting cultural values and getting to know the mentality of different countries, and
we are glad to be partners of RFF. Laos is a country where its own film industry is at the initial stage of
development, while cinema as a form of leisure is loved here, and we hope that the RFF will attract a
large number of viewers and help viewers learn more about the life of modern Russia.”
Russian Film Festival Program
An excellent start to the weekend for film lovers will be the evening screening of the musical sports
drama Ice, which will open the Festival on Friday, April 21 The film directed by Oleg Trofim, which
was released in cinemas in early 2018, tells the story of a figure skater, Nadia, who, thanks to faith and
perseverance, achieves great success. However, when her dreams of high-profile victories, a wonderful
life, and a handsome prince already seem ready to come true, fate presents a real test. The film was in the
top three most popular Russian films abroad in 2018, collecting the largest box office in China, and in
2020 its sequel Ice 2 was in the top ten Russian films in terms of box office internationally. At the end of
2022, the producers announced that the third part of the successful franchise would also be filmed.
Another drama in the RFF program is the family adventure film A Dog Named Palma (2021), directed
by Alexander Domogarov Jr. This is a story based on real events. According to the plot, Palma, a
German shepherd, is forced to part with his owner who flies abroad. The faithful dog is left behind right
on the airfield. Palma meets the planes every day in the hope that his owner has returned. Meanwhile, 9-
year-old Kolya is also new at the airport. He lost his mother and moved in with his father, a pilot he
barely knows. Palma becomes a kindred spirit and best friend for the boy. The film is already familiar to
viewers in different countries: the film was released in cinemas in China, and in Japan it became the
highest grossing Russian film in the past 20 years. The rights to the film were sold in 20 countries around
the world. At RFF in Thailand, which took place in 2023, A Dog Named Palma attracted record numbers
of viewers.
For a romantic mood the Russian Film Festival offers two comedies Desperate for Marriage and
Russian South. Desperate for Marriage, directed by Sonya Karpunina, was released in Russian cinemas
in March 2022 and immediately became the biggest comedy of the season. This is a story about a
journalist for whom everything is going according to plan: she works as a TV presenter and has a
successful and rich fiancé. The plan is shattered when a chance encounter sets off a series of events which
completely changes her life. The comedy participated in RFF 2022 in Brazil, Mexico, Serbia, and
Thailand
Russian South by Anton Fedotov takes viewers to the coast of the Black Sea in summer and plunges
them into a world of passions. Artem, a student, falls in love with a young beauty from the Black Sea.
Having lost his head, he gives up everything and moves—for the sake of his beloved—to the Russian
South, a place he knows nothing about. It turns out that the beautiful Ksyusha is already being pursued by
two serious local competitors. It seems that the naive student simply has no chance, but he is not going to
give up.
For young viewers, the festival will show the full-length cartoon Horse Julius on the Throne and the
Three Heroes from directors Darina Schmidt and Konstantin Feoktistov. This is a story about Julius the
Horse, who becomes the protagonist of incredible adventures.
Screening schedule at the Major Platinum Cineplex:
April 21 (Friday):
Ice (closed screenings)
April 22 (Saturday):
11:00 Horse Julius on the Throne and the Three Heroes
15:00 A Dog Named Palma
April 23 (Sunday):
11:00 Russian South
15:00 Desperate for Marriage