09 April / 2023
Launching Ceremony of the Second Russian Film Festival in Mauritius
On April 7, 2023, a solemn opening ceremony of the second festival of Russian cinema - a retrospective screening of Mosfilm's movies, was held at the "MCine Trianon" cinema on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Mauritius. The event was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage of Mauritius, Mrs. Indira Ruchaia, the Director of the Department of Asia and Russia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade of Mauritius, Mr. Roy Bissoondoyal, the President and the Director General of the Mauritius Film Development Corporation, heads and members of diplomatic missions of friendly countries accredited in Mauritius, members of associations of compatriots and Mauritian graduates of Soviet and Russian universities, as well as cinema lovers.
The opening ceremony was accompanied by a performance by a trio consisting of Yevgeniya Efimova, Evangelika Batarshina, and Anastasya Lagaillard , who performed Russian songs and dances in national costumes for the guests. In the frameworks of the event officials delivered speeches.
The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Mauritius told the guests about a historically friendly nature of relations between Russia and Mauritius, touched upon the films offered for the showcase during the week, and expressed gratitude to the Director General of the largest Russian film studio and well-known director K.G. Shakhnazarov for supporting the Embassy's initiative to hold the festival. He highly praised the cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, as well as with the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Mauritius, which also supported the Russian proposal and provided excellent organization for the week of cinema. Mrs. Indira Ruchaia, in turn, confirmed the desire of Mauritians to get closer acquainted with the rich Russian culture, informed about the preparation of a new project of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding in the field of culture, and expressed confidence that the 2023 festival will be as successful as the similar event held in 2018.
Before the screening of the film "Ilya Muromets" (1956, directed by Aleksandr Ptushko), which opened the festival, the audience enjoyed video message from Karen Shakhnazarov congratulating on the occasion of such an important cultural event contributing to deepen understanding between the peoples of the two countries.
The opening ceremony was accompanied by a performance by a trio consisting of Yevgeniya Efimova, Evangelika Batarshina, and Anastasya Lagaillard , who performed Russian songs and dances in national costumes for the guests. In the frameworks of the event officials delivered speeches.
The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Mauritius told the guests about a historically friendly nature of relations between Russia and Mauritius, touched upon the films offered for the showcase during the week, and expressed gratitude to the Director General of the largest Russian film studio and well-known director K.G. Shakhnazarov for supporting the Embassy's initiative to hold the festival. He highly praised the cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, as well as with the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Mauritius, which also supported the Russian proposal and provided excellent organization for the week of cinema. Mrs. Indira Ruchaia, in turn, confirmed the desire of Mauritians to get closer acquainted with the rich Russian culture, informed about the preparation of a new project of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding in the field of culture, and expressed confidence that the 2023 festival will be as successful as the similar event held in 2018.
Before the screening of the film "Ilya Muromets" (1956, directed by Aleksandr Ptushko), which opened the festival, the audience enjoyed video message from Karen Shakhnazarov congratulating on the occasion of such an important cultural event contributing to deepen understanding between the peoples of the two countries.
