Russia’s planned Eurasian Oscars not an attempt to fight Hollywood, says director

Russia’s planned Eurasian alternative to the Oscars is not a response to Hollywood, according to film director and head of the Russian Cinematographers’ Union Nikita Mikhalkov.

“Eurasia is a huge part of the world, which deserves more attention than it attracts today,” Mr Mikhalkov stated in reference to the proposed annual awards ceremony, speaking at the Eurasian Bridge Film Festival in Crimea, which will likely serve as a launchpad for the initiative. “[But] this is not an attempt to fight Hollywood.”

It is anticipated that the awards will gain funding from the government, like all major film festivals in Russia.

Mikhalkov’s film Sunstroke (2014) was nominated by Russia last year for the Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category, but missed out on the shortlist of nine contenders for the prize. Mikhalkov cited prejudice against Russia as the rationale for the judges’ decision. His recent comments regarding Hollywood come within the context of an ongoing debate over a potential theatrical release quota for local films in a bid to limit the number Hollywood films released in Russia.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter