«Kinotavr» is Russia’s biggest open film festival. It takes place in Sochi annually, this year its 18th time.

The opening ceremony took place evening June 3rd. There are fourteen moves in the competition program; they’ve been selected from over 100 films. Most of the participating movies are Russian (only one foreign move is Ukrainian), you can find the complete list of the titles at the official website’s program page.

Zimny Theater in Sochi 

Photo(c) Pen Pal

The festival takes place in Sochi’s Zimny Theater. There is a big area in front of it, where they usually paint “star path” (blue path with white stars), which guests of the festival take to the theater’s steps. But sometimes they just lay down a red carpet, like they do for the Oscars.

Zimny Theater on Google Maps

While the official things are going on inside, outside they play movies for everyone else, if the weather permits.

Photo(c) device_traveller

Photo(c) kinotavr.ru

Hollywood stars have visited «Kinotavr» too. In 2002 Dolph Lundgren attended opening ceremony, and Eric Roberts was present at the festival’s closing. Maybe there were others, but i know about these because back then my close friend was general manager in one of Sochi’s best restaurants, and I have a photo of him and Dolph Lundgren shaking hands. And even though I don’t have a scanner, I found photos from the event online:

Dolph Lundgren at the opening ceremony in 2002. Photo(c) Bob Van Ronkel

Eric Roberts in Sochi during «Kinotavr» in 2002. Photo(c) Bob Van Ronkel

The last day of the festival is June 11th. It’s when we’ll know who gets one of these :)

Old logo of the festival. I lkie it a lot better then the new one.

Links:
Official «Kinotavr» festival
All previous winners of the «Kinotavr» on IMDB