"Don't Bury Me Without Ivan", directed by Lyubov Borisova, which participated in the competition program of the SCO Film Festival in India, received the Special Jury Award. The film festival was held from 27 to 31 January in Mumbai. Seven Russian films were presented in various programs of the festival. ROSKINO, the Russian film promotion body, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, chose the films from Russia for the program.
The Yakut drama "Don't Bury Me Without Ivan”, based on real events, shows the friendship between the Russian artist Ivan Popov and the Yakut peasant Stepan Beresekov, who periodically falls into a catatonic sleep. The film was made with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. Director Lyubov Borisova and producer Ivan Bolotnikov presented the film to the audience.
Director Lyubov Borisova: “It is a great honor to receive such recognition at the SCO Film Festival. It is especially wonderful to visit India for the first time and to see the enthusiastic and warm reaction of local viewers to our film. I think that if you make a film with love for the audience, then it will be understood and accepted anywhere in the world.”
Producer Ivan Bolotnikov: “For the international success of the film, it is important to be like no one else. Be yourself. And "Don’t bury me without Ivan” has this quality. India is hosting the SCO Film Festival for the first time. I hope that this will serve to strengthen ties between the Russian and Indian film industries, among filmmakers from other SCO countries.”
*About ROSKINO
ROSKINO is a state body representing the Russian industry of audiovisual content on the international markets, a national operator for the promotion of films, series and animation as well as the creative potential and coproduction opportunities with Russia.
About the SCO Film Festival
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Film Festival in Mumbai is being held as part of India's chairmanship of SCO. In September 2022, India became the chairman for 2022-2023 of SCO for the first time. The goals of the festival are to showcase films from SCO countries, organize film partnerships, promote the development of young talent in the film industry, and strengthen cultural interaction between SCO member states, SCO observer states, and SCO dialogue partner countries. The first film festival of SCO countries was held in 2018 in Qingdao (China).