The 9th annual Kazan International Muslim Film Festival is under way in the capital of the Russian republic of Tatarstan. Fifty films from 27 countries are competing for the festival's top prize. On September 5, directors, actors, and festival jury members walked the red carpet to attend the opening ceremony. (RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service)
International Muslim Film Festival Opens In Kazan
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Mufti Ravil Gaynutdin, the head of the Council of Muftis of Russia and the festival's president, arrives with his wife for the opening ceremony.
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Crowds wait for guests to arrive. Although the festival highlights films from Muslims countries or with Muslim themes, the films cover a wide range of subjects, including secular topics.
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Filmmaker Karen Shakhnazarov is the head of the festival jury.
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Russian director and actor Vladimir Menchov
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Tatar director and actor Ramil Tukhvatullin and his wife
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Young Tatar director Ilshat Rakhimbay
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Orthodox priests are among the guests at the Muslim-themed film festival.
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Performers hold the flags of the 27 countries participating in the festival.
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Tatarstan's Speaker of Parliament Farit Mukhametshin addresses the guests.
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Festival president Mufti Ravil Gaynutdin speaks at the opening ceremony.
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