Westwind has made its way to Russia for the fourth time to promote European cinema using the commercial pull of high-quality titles that have represented the continent in the race for previous years’ Best Foreign-language Film Oscar. This European Film Promotion-run initiative aims to attract Russian audiences and assist these films penetrate the nation’s market.

The event began today and will run until 23 October, with films being screened at the Angleterre Cinema in Saint Petersburg. Titles from the event will also be hosted simultaneously on Russia’s largest online VoD platform, ivi. Westwind is financially supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe – MEDIA Programme and the participating EFP member organisations.

Last year’s edition of Westwind was very successful, especially on ivi, hosting previous years’ European Oscar submissions, for approximately 2.226 million views across the country. This year, similar success is expected for the VoD platform, with a programme that includes such well-known titles as The Brand New Testament [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Jaco van Dormael
scheda film] by Jaco van Dormael, Mustang [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Deniz Gamze Ergüven
scheda film] by Deniz Gamze Ergüven, Son of Saul [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
Q&A: László Nemes
intervista: László Rajk
scheda film] by László Nemes and Clouds of Sils Maria [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Charles Gillibert
intervista: Olivier Assayas
scheda film] by Olivier Assayas.

Meanwhile, at the Saint Petersburg screenings, other European titles will be showcased, such as Rams [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Grimur Hakonarson
scheda film] by Grímur Hákonarson, Baby(a)lone [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Donato Rotunno
scheda film] by Donato Rotunno, Labyrinth of Lies [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
making of
intervista: Giulio Ricciarelli
scheda film] by Giulio Ricciarelli, Aferim! [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Radu Jude
scheda film] by Radu Jude, Arabian Nights - Volume 2, The Desolate One [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Miguel Gomes
scheda film] by Miguel Gomes and Viva [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
scheda film] by Paddy Breathnach.

Two Russian premieres will take place at Saint Petersburg as well: the Danish-Swedish co-production Walk With Me [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film] by Lisa Ohlin, and Adult Life Skills [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film] (2016) by British writer-director Rachel Tunnard.