Sochi film festival with Luba Balagova: the 200th episode of The Next 100 Days Podcast!
Creator of sochi film festival, Luba Balagova, talks to us about starting a film festival in our 200th episode...
Sochi film festival with Luba Balagova: the 200th episode of The Next 100 Days Podcast!
Creator of sochi film festival, Luba Balagova, talks to us about starting a film festival in our 200th episode of The Next 100 Days Podcast. Luba has had the heart to create a film festival that celebrates two countries, which have not always been the best of friends. Called the Sochi Film Festival and Awards, Luba hopes she can open a space in which Britain and Russia can appreciate each other again.
Creating Sochi film festival
Balagova was born in Russia and became a British citizen about 20 years ago. She recognised that Britain and Russia are two great nations which are filled with great film-makers, great artists and great creatives. However, the politics has got in the way. Therefore, connecting the two nations through cinema creates a space for a relationship without hostility.
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Ultimately, Luba believes cinema can connect people; it makes people's souls speak. Dostoevsky said "beauty will save the world" and this is something Luba is driven by . As a result, she wants to do her part in saving the world from disconnection, through the Sochi film festival.
A space for acceptance, welcome and respect
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Luba sees both Britain and Russia as beautiful and creative countries which would benefit from being united. Indeed, she is so proud of being part of something that brings together great film makers.
For example, she has had Stephan Frears join the awards ceremony for the Sochi film festival. So, this really is an acclaimed festival. Filmmakers are so influential and they inspire current film lovers, as well as Luba herself.
It really is amazing what Luba has done, since she has created something very big and very successful, from scratch. She has essentially built from the ground up! But, how did she manage to do that? How has she managed to run something so prestigious, which started from absolutely nothing?
Starting from the ground-up...
Luba's background is literature, and she has published books internationally. She has also produced a few films, but never thought of creating a festival because it's a very difficult project. Nevertheless, when tension started to grow between Russia and Britain, she knew she had to use her voice. She calls this her 'spiritual voice', however this is not to do with religion. What she means by this is her position in culture - a voice that comes from her soul-feeling.
Step 1:
As a result, she decided she was going to start an Anglo-Russian film festival. Okay, where to start? Well, her husband is a Hollywood veteran (Mohy Quandor) and is one of the producers of the American tv series, Bonanza. Both of them visit Cannes Film Festival every year and Mohy was a great influence in Luba's deepening love for cinema.
Step 2:
So, when she brought up her idea with Mohy, he said it would be difficult but supported Luba because he understood and agrees with her concept. From there, she expressed her desire to the mayor of Sochi that she wanted this film festival to be at home in Sochi. Why? Because Sochi reminds Luba of Cannes.
Show time:
In 2015, Luba held her first press conference for the Sochi Film Festival, at Cannes Film Festival, which helped draw international press and support from both Russians and other international audiences. Then, it was just a matter of earning the agreement of the may of Sochi, who agreed immediately.
The important thing here is that Luba formed an anchor in Sochi through her friendly and positive strategy, so that there was someone who appreciated film and her motivation as much as she did.
In terms of steps towards making this film festival a success, she was introduced in a very friendly way, she met the mayor in a stimulating way,
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