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Russia will fund 'humanitarian, spiritual, patriotic' films, says culture minister

04.07.2008 18:00 Arts - Source: cbc.ca

Russia's new culture minister wants to see more homegrown films — and patriotic ones, at that — screening in the nation's theatres.

At a meeting of the State Duma on Wednesday, Alexander Avdeyev announced funding for the production of films "that have a humanitarian, spiritual [and] patriotic character."

The program will begin in 2009, he said, according to local news agencies.

"We will invite distinguished film directors, cinematographers, the best film crews [to participate]."

The Russian film industry already has a process where filmmakers can apply for government subsidies. However, critics have charged that the only filmmakers who benefit from this program are those who created propaganda movies for the state in the past.

During his speech, Avdeyev, who was named to the cultural post in May, also praised the fact that Russian-language films currently comprise close to 30 per cent of the domestic box office and that this percentage was increasing.

While he lauded Russia's film industry, however, the country's TV industry came in for a drubbing, with Avdeyev saying that Russian television was littered with "garbage-like, low-morality products, which cause harm and yield no benefits."

With files from the Associated Press

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