The 12th Trans-Baikal International Film Festival (12+) commenced on June 5th in Chita, Russia, marking the beginning of a cinematic celebration.

The festival’s opening ceremony featured a traditional “bagul” (rhododendron) path, welcoming guests and setting the stage for the event. The Governor of the Trans-Baikal Territory, Alexander Osipov, extended greetings to the festival attendees.

Actors Agata Mutsenietse and Georgy Peradze served as the hosts for the opening ceremony. The event was graced by the presence of notable figures, including Alexander Osipov with his wife Valentina; Alexander Mikhailov, the President of the film festival, with his wife Oksana and daughter Miroslava; Viktor Shkulev, Chairman of the organizing committee and President of Shkulev Holding; and Mikhail Salkov, General Director of Bystrinsky GOK.

Vladimir Khotinenko, Chairman of the jury, attended with his wife, Tatyana Yakovleva. The jury also includes actress Daria Ekamasova and director from India, Pushpendra Singh. Among the attendees were actress Victoria Zabolotnaya and Serbian director and film critic Dragan Milinković Fimon.

Other notable personalities included Boris Smolkin, Olga Prokofieva, Gosha Kutsenko, Yulia Pak, Georgy Martirosyan, Svetlana Permyakova, Lilia Savina (Director of ZMFF), Andrey Sokolov, Evgeny Dyatlov, Daria Travnikova, Galina Danilova, Eduard Radzyukevich, Anna Ardova, Yuri Obukhov, Yuri Nazarov, Polina Nechitaylo, Elena Zakharova, Dmitry Averin, Anna Nabatova, Ekaterina Vulichenko, Oleg Maslennikov-Voitov, Natalia Vagonova, Semyon Strugachev, Dmitry Pavlenko, Natalia Seliverstova, Andrey Kozlov, Ekaterina Tsareva, Nikolai Ryabukha, Daria Ryabukha, Vitaly Perminov, cosmonaut Vladimir Titov, Andrzej Petras, Anastasia Razlogova, Irina Levasheva and Alexandra Ozheretskaya.

The film festival, running from June 4th to 9th, has garnered support from major businesses in the Trans-Baikal region. Bystrinsky GOK is the general partner of the festival, with Highland Gold Group also listed as a partner.