Mikhalkov: MMKF suffered from sanctions

Political sanctions against Russia were influenced by the 36th Moscow International Film Festival (MMKF), Nikita Mikhalkov, President of the festival, said today, June 19.

“The festival does not die,” he said at a press briefing at the Pushkinsky cinema, ITAR-TASS reports. - Problems came related to sanctions against us. Someone isware, someone is afraid. This affected the festival, I can’t hide it. And it would be strange if it had been reflected throughout Russia, but not at the film festival. ”

“This is unpleasant, but there is a positive thing,” Mikhalkov continued. - There is a real need to turn to ourselves. I personally feel that there is a desire to be independent and express a protest against the wording to punish Russia. ”

Mikhalkov expressed the hope that the festival would pass calmly. He said that filmmakers from 61 countries presented their work at the MMKF - 397 feature films. “This is not so bad, after all,” said Mikhalkov. “I am convinced that one who wants to get a feeling from what world cinema is now can do this if you get tickets.”

In addition, Echo of Moscow reports, Nikita Mikhalkov advised the cinema union to sue the deputy chairman of the board of this organization, director Vitaly Mansky, for defeating her honor.

Earlier, Mansky, in an interview with one of the Ukrainian network media, shut up an obscenely against Mikhalkov because of his position in Ukraine and added that he does not understand why the West "is so tolerant of a person who is fighting European values." Mikhalkov noted that he himself did not intend to sue Mansky himself.