National News

International Catholic festival Magnificat 2007 to present films from 14 countries

The 3rd International Catholic Festival of the Christian Movies and TV Programs Magnificat 2007 will be held in the town of Glubokoe and in the villages of Udelo, Mosar and Ives of the Vitebsk oblast on June 20-24, head of the organizing committee of the festival, Belarusian filmmaker Yuri Gorulev told reporters today. 

According to him, this year, the forum will represent movies and TV programs from Belarus (19 works), Poland (7), Russia (5), Italy (2), Ukraine (1), Croatia (1), France (1), Mexico (1) and others.

The jury panel and audience will appreciate 43 movies and TV programs which tell about all the Christian confessions. The Orthodox Church will be represented by the film dedicated to Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk, Exarch of All-Belarus Filaret. The movie “Other Life” shot in Belarus will represent the Protestant Church. The works dedicated to unprotected and weak people: disabled persons, ill people and children is a traditionally strong and representative part of the contest movies. These are films “Crystal Boy” (Russia), “God’s People” (Belarus), “Angels” (Slovakia) and others.  

According to Yuri Gorulev, the Glubokoe region is rich in Catholic traditions. There are 12 parishes in the region. There is the Franciscans’ Monastery, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Maximillian Kolba Museum in the village of Udelo.

During the forum, excursions and conferences will be held. When the festival finishes, the jury panel will present a winner with the Grand Prix and also the prizes for the best documentary and TV program.

The festival Magnificat 2007 is organized by the Catholic Association for Communications SIGNIS-Belarus, studio “Stopkadr”, the cultural-religious journal “Dialogue” and also the Vitebsk Catholic Diocese. The forum is held with the blessing of His Eminence Cardinal Kazimir Swiontek under the auspices of the Glubokoe regional executive committee.