■  German MP Volker Beck, who was injured during Moscow Pride last year.  A still from the documentary “Mockba Pride ‘06” to be premiered at Berlinale.. Courtesy GayRussia.ru

MOSCOW, January 22, 2007  –  The documentary film about the turbulent events of May 2006 at Moscow Price is included in the official programme of the prestigious Berlin Film Festival next month.

The world premier of “Mockba Pride ‘06” will be on February 11 (3.30pm) at the Coliseum in Berlin as part of the 57^th Berlin International Film Festival.

The film, directed by Vladimir Ivanov, shot and produced for Project GayRussia.Ru during Moscow Gay Pride Festival on May 25-27  last year, is included in the official programme of section “Panorama Documente” of Berlinale.

The Berlinale organisers confirmed at the weekend the programme of film screenings for “Panorama” section.

Addition festival screenings of “Mockba Pride ‘06” in Berlinale will take place on February 14 in CineStar 7 at 8 pm and February 15 in CineStar 7 at 2.30 pm.

Attending the festival will be the co-organisers of Moscow Pride, Nikolai Alekseev and Evgenia Debryanskaya, along with the director.  They will take part in the three official screenings and answer questions from the audiences.

■ Philippe Lasnier, representative of the Mayor of Paris, is arrested by the OMON security police outside the Kremlin.  A still from the documentary “Mockba Pride ‘06” Courtesy GayRussia.ru

It is expected that the screenings of the film will be attended by German politicians, among them Bundestag member Volker Beck, who was attacked during Moscow pride and became one of the important figures in the film.

“When we were shooting the events of the first Moscow pride, we were not even thinking that they will become part of the film,” said Mr. Alekseev, who was himself arrested by police on 27 May 2006 while he tried to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin Wall.

“Our aim was to create a clear historical chronology of events without any prejudice.”

He added that “participation of the film in the official programme of one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world is a huge success for us but also an opportunity to reach the international community and disclose the difficulties of the lives of sexual minorities in Russia.”

The film will be in competition for awards in both the independent jury and “popular” sections, including the “Teddy Award” for gay films.

■ The scene outside the Kremlin. A still from the documentary “Mockba Pride ‘06” Courtesy GayRussia.ru

Work on 84-minute documentary went on from May until December last year.  The film covers the conference of the International Day Against Homophobia, Nordic cultural festival, lecture and presentation of the books by Oscar Wilde’s grandson Merlin Holland, court consideration of the claims of Moscow pride organizers against decisions of Moscow authorities to ban public gay events in the Russian capital, attacks of extremists on Moscow gay clubs as well as turbulent event of Moscow pride in the centre of the city on  May 27.

Pride was attended by delegates from over 20 countries, including prominent foreign politicians, public figures and activists. Private show of the documentary film took place at the end of November in Moscow, and a short 12-minute version was shown in London in November.

■  Read Peter Tatchell's "on the spot" report of Moscow Pride (UK Gay News, May 27, 2006)

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Posted: 22 January 2007 at 08:00 (UK time)