If not Mikhalkov, then who?

The new cinema union, which broke away from the Union of Cinematographers under the leadership of Nikita Mikhalkov, was officially established about 9 months ago, since then it was headed by Boris Khlebnikov, and his deputies were Alexei Herman Jr. and Vitaliy Mansky. At the current congress, the chairman should be re -elected.

Screenwriter, director, actor Andrei Smirnov made this proposal:

- The opinion was expressed by one or two speakers that there are famous people here, with the names that they need to be “on the sign”, so that they would go to the corridors of the authorities to achieve something from this power. I have to say that the reign and I, as his member and simply as a filmmaker, categorically object to this. All this is nothing more than the rest of the habit of secretariats. Among us there are people for whom the word "secretary" still means from Soviet times. We are in a fundamentally different situation. And I repeat: yes, of course, there are respected people here. But if you guess to choose “on the sign” of Naum Kleiman, Yuri Norshtein - although these are large forces in our cinema - but then the price is worthless. This is the same collection of pensioners as the union that has been able to utter the word in defense of cinema for 10 years. If there is no Khlebnikov, Todorovsky, Fedorchenko and other directors who represent the cinema in this rule, then all this organization is not good for the line! ... There is no danger that this is a chosen young rule to break away from the people and begin to tear off pieces, no. We have no pieces. As for the candidacy of the chairman - we would, again, put forward the same Boris Khlebnikov, because we liked him in this capacity, ”Andrei Smirnov Skzal.

The candidacy of Boris Khlebnikov suited everyone, but he himself made an unexpected statement:

- I probably commit an idiotic act and bring my comrades, although I think not - but I will not pull, I will not do this, I will withdraw my candidacy. Last time I gave myself to persuade, because there really was an absolutely crisis situation, and there was no person who wanted to do this. Now I do not see a crisis. I see in the hall Fedorchenko, Todorovsky, Smirnov Andrei Sergeyevich, Mansky. I am withdrawing my candidacy. Sorry.

It also became clear that Self -relief would also take Valery Todorovsky. The list of other candidates for the post of chairman is extensive. Who will lead the movie union will become clear only on July 2.

All the proxents were interested in the proposal of Rustam Ibrahimbekov to collect the expert commission, select some interesting projects by the forces of this commission and then punch them.

He was supported by actor Leonid Yarmolnik :

- It is pointless to be proud of past merits, our authority in this meeting. Talking about the privileges - too. The only sound sentence, in my opinion (I listened to everything), was with Rustam Ibrahimbekov. We must choose an expert commission of those people whose taste, the level of culture, knowledge of our cinema, we trust our traditions. Let them take away 10-15 projects that would support this union. Let's get money for these projects. Let's make this movie. And when we do and win it, we can open any doors and say that this is a real union.

Dear friends, there are few youth here today, this is a big problem ... really, if today you were crawling youth, who is looking for our support and believes us, and understands why we gathered, it would be much easier for us. Therefore, in order to start something, we need to prove something today. Yesterday's merits we will not prove anything and we will not open a single doors.