Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to the Russian Federation Vinay Kumar opened the Indian Film Festival at Mir cinema during the first TIME: Russia – India. Mutual Efficiency business forum in Kazan.
Ambassador Kumar noted that while the forum’s key themes—business, trade, economics, and investment—were vital aspects of life, cinema was what directly connected hearts.
“When our hearts are connected, financial relations become more meaningful. This film festival is a very important event on the sidelines of the forum. Kazan has been in our hearts and minds over the last year. This is due to the high-level delegation’s visit to the BRICS Summit last year and the decision to open a new consulate of India in Kazan,” stated Vinay Kumar.
The diplomat also emphasised that the creative industry was actively expanding and beginning to utilise new technologies such as artificial intelligence. The film industry not only creates new jobs but also helps connect people from different continents, from Russia and India, and directly share content with each other.
“And in the coming weeks, when we open the Consulate General of India in Kazan, you will see more and more Indian business representatives on the city streets, representatives of the cultural industry, students, teachers and professors. In return, Russian residents will visit India,” the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary highlighted.
Vice Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Leyla Fazleyeva thanked Mr Kumar for the opportunity to experience Indian culture and to present the region’s capabilities in film production.
“I would like to express great hope that a component related to the culture of our countries will always be present at the business forum. Thank you for the opportunity for cooperation, joint creativity, and our partnership, both in business and in cinematography,” shared Leyla Fazleyeva.
In response, producer Sarfaraz Alam proposed that the Tatarstan vice prime minister star in a leading role in one of his future films.
“I want to thank Ms Fazleyeva for already agreeing to shoot my next film jointly with Tatarstan. If The Adventures of Italians in Russia was a super hit, then Leila’s Journey in India could become another super hit,” the director said.
Snow Flower was the festival’s revelation film. Actress Chhaya Kadam who played the lead role in the film travelled abroad for the first time and came to Russia deliberately for the event. At the solemn opening ceremony, she appeared in her mother’s sari, thereby emphasising generational continuity – one of the central ideas of the film.
Vice Minister of Culture of Tatarstan Damir Natfullin, head of Tatarkino public film studio Milyausha Aytuganova and General Director General and producer of Indian Films Karen Mirzoyan also participated the grand opening ceremony.
TIME: Russia – India. Mutual Efficiency business forum was held for the first time in Kazan on 8-9 October. The forum’s business programme at the Bashir Rameyev IT Park united sessions on key areas: investment and finance, the labour market, education and science, IT and digital technologies, medicine, the gas and petrochemical sector, agriculture, the film industry and media.
TIME: Russia – India. Mutual Efficiency business forum is organised by the ANO Directorate of International Programmes.
Ambassador Kumar noted that while the forum’s key themes—business, trade, economics, and investment—were vital aspects of life, cinema was what directly connected hearts.
“When our hearts are connected, financial relations become more meaningful. This film festival is a very important event on the sidelines of the forum. Kazan has been in our hearts and minds over the last year. This is due to the high-level delegation’s visit to the BRICS Summit last year and the decision to open a new consulate of India in Kazan,” stated Vinay Kumar.
The diplomat also emphasised that the creative industry was actively expanding and beginning to utilise new technologies such as artificial intelligence. The film industry not only creates new jobs but also helps connect people from different continents, from Russia and India, and directly share content with each other.
“And in the coming weeks, when we open the Consulate General of India in Kazan, you will see more and more Indian business representatives on the city streets, representatives of the cultural industry, students, teachers and professors. In return, Russian residents will visit India,” the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary highlighted.
Vice Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Leyla Fazleyeva thanked Mr Kumar for the opportunity to experience Indian culture and to present the region’s capabilities in film production.
“I would like to express great hope that a component related to the culture of our countries will always be present at the business forum. Thank you for the opportunity for cooperation, joint creativity, and our partnership, both in business and in cinematography,” shared Leyla Fazleyeva.
In response, producer Sarfaraz Alam proposed that the Tatarstan vice prime minister star in a leading role in one of his future films.
“I want to thank Ms Fazleyeva for already agreeing to shoot my next film jointly with Tatarstan. If The Adventures of Italians in Russia was a super hit, then Leila’s Journey in India could become another super hit,” the director said.
Snow Flower was the festival’s revelation film. Actress Chhaya Kadam who played the lead role in the film travelled abroad for the first time and came to Russia deliberately for the event. At the solemn opening ceremony, she appeared in her mother’s sari, thereby emphasising generational continuity – one of the central ideas of the film.
Vice Minister of Culture of Tatarstan Damir Natfullin, head of Tatarkino public film studio Milyausha Aytuganova and General Director General and producer of Indian Films Karen Mirzoyan also participated the grand opening ceremony.
TIME: Russia – India. Mutual Efficiency business forum was held for the first time in Kazan on 8-9 October. The forum’s business programme at the Bashir Rameyev IT Park united sessions on key areas: investment and finance, the labour market, education and science, IT and digital technologies, medicine, the gas and petrochemical sector, agriculture, the film industry and media.
TIME: Russia – India. Mutual Efficiency business forum is organised by the ANO Directorate of International Programmes.