‘World of Wonder’ festival hosted in Serbia

Organized by the Gorky Film Studio and SMF Studio in partnership with Rossotrudnichestvo, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, as well as with the Serbian branch of the International Foundation for the Spiritual Unity of the People, the International Festival of Children’s and Youth Cinema and Animation “World of Wonder” was held in Belgrade (Republic of Serbia) from October 25 to 31.

For five days, screenings and creative meetings with representatives of the film industry took place at the venues of the Russian House, the Opshtina Zemun Cultural Center, as well as the International Belgrade Book Fair. The audience saw Russian movie hits of recent years, including films created at the Gorky Film Studio for children and youth audiences, as well as a collection of SMF original tapes.

‘Serbia and Russia have a lot in common, and festivals such as the World of Miracles allow us to maintain and maintain mutual interest not only between states as a whole, but also between families, parents and children of our countries,” said Juliana Slashcheva, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SMF Studio, CEO of the Gorky Film Studio, Visual language has the property of universality, accessibility, and therefore best promotes unification and dialogue.’

The festival was attended by Boris Mashkovtsev, Director General of the Soyuzmultfilm Studio, Yulia Davydova, Director for the development of new directions at Gorky Film Studio, Susanna Alperina, film reviewer and producer of the festival, Natalia, head of the Serbian branch of the International Foundation for the Spiritual Unity of the People Kotsev, as well as representatives of the Russian House in Belgrade, the Opshtina Staraya Pazova Cultural Center, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Serbia and the Serbian branch of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Peoples.

‘The World of Wonder Film Festival was important for strengthening and developing cultural ties between our two peoples: for the first time, both modern Russian children’s and youth cinema and the latest achievements of domestic animation were presented in such numbers,” said Vyacheslav Charsky, Deputy Head of the Russian House in Belgrade, “I believe that the qualitative continuation of the implementation of such projects In the future, it will make a significant contribution to the promotion of traditional values among Serbian youth.’

The event was held in Serbia for the second time: in 2021, viewers could visit the First Balkan Cartoon Festival dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the Soyuzmultfilm film Studio.

‘The festival is very important because it is addressed primarily to Serbian young viewers: the films that children have seen carry the kindest feelings and appeal to the very heart. Russian Russian culture is a wonderful opportunity to once again touch Russian culture and hear the Russian language,” said Natalia Kotsev, head of the Serbian branch of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Peoples, “It is wonderful that for the second year the festival gives an opportunity here in Serbia to once again touch Russian culture and hear the Russian language.’

According to the organizers, negotiations were held at the festival site and the parties agreed on a mutual initiative to hold annual festivals. In addition, next year similar events may take place in several countries of the Balkan region, the CIS, as well as in Asian countries.