Indian cinema’s strong connection with Russian audiences was prominently showcased at the Moscow International Film Week, which began on August 23 at the Khudozhestvenny Cinema. This year’s festival was a grand event, featuring over 300 screenings from more than 40 countries, including Russia, China and Turkey.

The festival kicked off with a screening of Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, which received heartfelt praise from the audience for its unique storytelling and cultural resonance. Indian cinema was particularly celebrated on the second day, with showings of Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD and SS Rajamouli’s blockbuster RRR. The drama, emotions, and action in Kalki captivated the crowd and the evening was further enlivened by Russian artistes dancing to Bollywood hits like Kehna hi kya from Dil Se. The event also featured Indian cuisine, which was warmly received by the Russian attendees.

Notable figures in the industry who attended the event included Swapna Dutt and Priyanka Dutta, producers of Kalki 2898 AD; Dil Raju, a prominent South Indian producer; Marjike DeSouza, head of production at Dharma Productions; and Gayatri Gulati, Senior Vice President at Viacom18 Studios. Their presence underlined the importance of cultural exchange between India and Russia.

At the press conference, Alexei Fursin, Moscow’s Minister of Culture, highlighted the event’s aim to showcase Moscow as a dynamic cinema hub. He noted, “Moscow has never hosted an event of this scale, uniting festivals, exhibitions and business programs under one roof. Our goal is to present Moscow as a vibrant cinema city that inspires filmmakers and industry professionals.”

Fursin emphasised the importance of fostering film collaborations and cultural exchange between Russia and India, noting that the Moscow Department of Culture supported this initiative.
He also highlighted the cost advantages of filming in Moscow compared to other major cities: “Filming in Moscow is significantly cheaper, costing $15,000 per day compared to $70,000 in Los Angeles, $50,000 in London, and $35,000 in Paris. Moscow offers a 80 per cent cost reduction compared to Los Angeles and is 50 per cent cheaper than Budapest, with easy access to accommodation, meals, equipment rentals and local crews.”

He further noted that the Moscow Film Commission facilitates location scouting, permits logistics and also provides financial incentives such as grants and subsidies to support film production.

The Moscow International Film Week has reinforced the deep cultural bonds between India and Russia, demonstrating the power of cinema to transcend borders and unite people through shared stories and experiences.