< ARCTIC OPEN IFF has received 1,500+ submissions from 98 countries>
Sunday, October 10, the V Arctic Countries Film Festival ARCTIC OPEN announced its call for submissions closed. Of the total of 1562 submissions from 98 countries, the majority came from the Russian filmmakers (266 submissions), followed by 214 submissions from Iran and 172 from India.
According to the festival concept, preference should be given to films by cinematographers in Arctic countries. In the Arctic eight, the most prolific submitter is Russia, followed by the United States of America (73 submissions) and Canada (25 submissions). The majority of the films submitted are short films (1,175). Documentaries number 273 and feature films 114. The festival is currently forming its shortlist, which is going to be announced on October 25 at an online conference.
ARCTIC OPEN Programmer, Angelika Dolinina, describes the 2021 submissions as “reflecting the full range of challenges faced by the man of today regardless of place of residence, social status and nationality – the pandemic, globalization, environment, culture, identify crisis in this rapidly changing world, etc. We are faced with a difficult task of selecting 50 full-length feature films, documentaries and shorts from a total of 1562 submissions. This year we are shifting focus towards cultural patterns, values of the peoples of the northern countries, flashback memories and how these get reflected in the present.
”The festival organizers will give more details of this year’s festival events at a press conference on October 25. The conference will be held online due to current restrictions.
All ARCTIC OPEN events will be fully observing the pandemic restrictions that will be in force in Arkhangelsk Region during the festival days.
The V Arctic Countries Film Festival ARCTIC OPEN is a project of the Pomor Culture Foundation “Bereginya” and is funded by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, Arkhangelsk Governor’s Center, and the Ministry of Culture of Arkhangelsk Region. ARCTIC OPEN is co-organized by Northern (Arctic) Federal University.Follows us on social networks:VKontakte: https://vk.com/arctic_open_kinofestFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/arcticopenfest/?ref=bookmarks