Rospotrebnadzor sealed cinema halls in St. Petersburg at the opening of the Artdocfest festival

Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Rospotrebnadzor came to the opening of the documentary film festival "Artdocfest" in the Cinema House in St. Petersburg. The authorities sealed the cinema halls where the screenings were to take place, the festival's Facebook page reported.

"An inspection is trying to disrupt the opening of ArtDocFest at the Cinema House based on a statement from the notorious Timur Bulatov (Isaev)," the festival reported on Facebook. Authorities decided to check how the festival is complying with anti-coronavirus restrictions, Dozhd reports , citing the organizers of ArtDocFest.

Before sealing the Cinema House premises, police officers and representatives of Rospotrebnadzor tried to enter the hall before the opening film of the festival, the film "Rastorguev" about the deceased director Alexander Rastorguev. The festival staff refused to let them in, since at that moment a minute of silence was taking place in the hall.

"Artdocfest" in St. Petersburg is scheduled for April 3-10 at the Cinema House and "Lendok". The festival program includes 36 films.

Updated . Director Yulia Vishnevets announced the cancellation of the screening of her film "Katya and Vasya Go to School" in St. Petersburg. The film was supposed to be shown as part of the "Artdocfest" in St. Petersburg and Moscow on April 7.

• In December 2020, the Angleterre cinema in St. Petersburgwas closed before the start of the Artdocfest festival screenings.