"Kunaki" Festival organizers refuse to award Grand Prix

The 11^th North-Caucasian Open Film and TV Festival "Kunaki" has been completed in Sukhumi. This year, organizers have refused to award Festival Grand Prix because of lack of professional level to be shown by festival films.

On November 20, on the last day of the "Kunaki" festival, six films were presented, including one about the Caucasus: "They Served for Russia" directed by Maryana Tanasheva and screenwriter Aslan Kardanov of Nalchik. The film describes a story of Adygs and Balkars who served in the escort of a Russian emperor, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Then the Museum of Military Glory named after V. Ardzinba hosted the ceremony to close the film festival. According to the collegial decision made of jury members, this year, no films have been awarded the Festival Grand Prix.

"The jury has decided there is no any outstanding film of professional characteristics among the film submitted that could qualify for the main prize," festival director Ilyas Bogatyryov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Meanwhile, according to Ilyas Bogatyryov, the jury members have made an unusual decision and determined two prize-winning films for each nomination.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.