MINSK, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The 32nd Minsk International Film Festival Listapad opened Friday at the Moskva cinema in Minsk.
The festival features eight competitive programs covering feature, documentary and animated films, children's and youth films under the Listapadzik banner, Cinema of the Young, short films, the National Competition and a competition of national film schools.
Its non-competition program includes an evening commemorating Belarusian director Viktor Turov, national cinema days for Belarus, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan's National Cinema Days at the Pobeda cinema. A special program marking the Year of Belarusian Women highlights films by women directors and works about notable female figures.
The festival also features meetings and masterclasses with producers, directors, and actors from Belarus, Russia, Italy, Georgia, and Uzbekistan. Two roundtables will discuss Belarus-Russia cooperation in film production and distribution under the Union State Permanent Committee, and cinema education in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko extended congratulations to the festival's guests, participants, and organizers, wishing them an event that celebrates artistic excellence and cultural exchange.
This year, the festival received more than 3,300 submissions from over 100 countries, selecting 130 films from 55 countries. Participants include filmmakers from Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Vietnam.
Running from Oct. 30 to Nov. 6, the festival is held under the slogan "Watch. Live. Appreciate." ■