On June 3, 2010 Senior Vice-Governor I.A.Pozdnyakov gave a press-conference in the building of the of Vologda Oblast Department of Culture and Cultural Heritage Preservation devoted to the International festival of the young cinema “VOICES” that will take place in Vologda and Cherepovets on July 4-9.

Abbreviation “VOICES” is decoded as Vologda Independent Cinema from European Screens. The holders of the festival: Vologda Oblast Government, Vologda Oblast Department of Culture and Cultural Heritage Preservation, Vologda City Administration and ID-reel French company. The festival is included in the calendar of the Year of France in Russia and is arranged under the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Ministry of culture and communications of France, Embassy of France in Russia.

Ivan A.Pozdnyakov introduced to the journalists a team of professionals who in the near future will present the best films of young European film directors-debutants- to the Vologda audience. The films for VOICES competition and out-of-competition programs were selected by a famous film critic, a member of FIPRESCI of the 63rd Cannes film festival Igor Guskov and art director of the festival Corinna Danielu. General producer of the festival Pavel Morozov and director of the festival Igor Lysenko are in charge for inviting guests for the cinema forum – famous film directors, actors and film critics. The Vologda part was presented by Head of the Vologda Oblast Department of Culture and Cultural Heritage Valentina V.Ratsko and her deputy Vera D.Ilyashenko.

“Voices” organizers underlined the significance of the festival as one of the important events of the Year of Russia in France and Year of France in Russia, told about the competition program and the events that will take place in the frames of the cinema forum at the open stages of the Vologda Kremlin, on the Kremlin square of the regional capital and in the halls of the Vologda cinemas “Lenkom” and “Salute” and in the city of Cherepovets.

The festival will accent on young cinema and young film directors younger 40. Its program is oriented to those interested in modern European cinematography.

In the competition program of the festival there are ten films by the young European film directors-debutants:
“Qu’un seul tienne et les autres suivroat” (Lea Fehner, France),
“The eights wonderland” (Nicolas Alberny and Jhan Mash, France)
“To be missing” (Anna Fenchenko, Russia)
“My fortune” (Sergey Loznitsa, Ukraine)
“Reverse” (Boris Lankosh, Poland)
“Burrowing” (Fredrik Wezel and Henrik Hellström, Sweden)
“Applauds” (Martin Pieter Zandvliet, Denmark)
“Alza la testa” (Alessandro Angelini, Italy)
“Me too” (Alvaro Pastor and Antonio Naharro, Spain)
“Amer” (Helene Cattet and Bruno Forzani, Belgium-France)

The competent international jury consisting of famous film directors, actors and film producers Sergey Bodrov, Krzysztof Zanussi, Michele Placido, Claude Brasseur, Hugh Hadson, and Andrey Khalpakhchi will have to define who will receive:
- Grand prix of the cinema festival (Euro 30 thousand)
- Top prize “Best film director”
- Top prize “Best screen writer”
- Top prize “Best actor”

One of the films will be awarded to the top prize of the audience jury. One of the most vivid pictures of the European cinematography will be awarded to the special prize “Boundless talent”.

The organizers underlined that all the pictures will be shown on native language of the producers. It may happen so that the audience wouldn’t like reading subtitles but such a form will allow to preserve the voice intonation of the actors and to realize the story.

“Producing the program of the festival we realize that the films shouldn’t be too clever and hard to the audience”, - told Igor Guskov. – “VOICES” program will be interested to the professionals and just film fans. The festival will become a real film festivity presenting different genres”.

Films that become laureates of the Vologda International festival of the young European festival VOICES will be demonstrated on July 10-11, 2010 to Moscow audience. Special shows will take place in the capital cinema “Pioneer”.

Several creative projects will be developed in the frames of the film festival. There will be round tables and master classes, meetings with the audience, discussions of films. A photo exhibition of American photographer Roger Sallok is planned. Concerts of the young but already famous music groups including Saint-Petersburg group “Billy’s Band” will be given on the Sobornaya hill for Vologda residents and festival guests.

Besides, all volunteers can make declaration of love to Vologda land by creating a short film (maximum 5 minutes). The winner of amateur short film competition “I love you, Vologda land” will be awarded to a week tour to France.