MOSCOW, August 7. /TASS/. Russian Film Week will take place in the Cuban capital from August 10 to 16 as part of the 34th Havana International Book Fair; its program will feature contemporary Russian films and classics of Soviet cinema, Roskino reported.

"Russia and Cuba share long-standing friendly relations, and the regular film exchange events we hold with our Cuban partners are an important part of cultural cooperation. Our country is the guest of honor at the 34th Havana International Book Fair, and we are pleased that screenings of contemporary Russian films in various genres will become part of the program of such a major and prestigious event this year. I am confident that the family films, adaptations of beloved fairy tales and an iconic work of Soviet cinema will, as always, resonate with Cuban audiences," Roskino CEO Elsa Antonova said.

The program includes Upon the Magic Roads directed by Oleg Pogodin, Wish of the Fairy Fish directed by Alexander Voytinsky, Cheburashka and Cheburashka 2 directed by Dmitry Dyachenko, I'm Taking a Step directed by Olga Akatieva, and the Soviet classic Don Quixote directed by Grigory Kozintsev. The latter will open the screenings. A Russian language instructor will also deliver a talk for viewers ahead of a screening of the family comedy Cheburashka 2.

Events under the project "A Comprehensive Program of Cultural Events Abroad to Promote and Popularize the Russian Language" will also take place on August 10 and 11 as part of the Havana International Book Fair. Rosconcert is organizing the project with support from the Russian Culture Ministry.

Soloists from the Lyudmila Zykina State Academic Russian Folk Ensemble Rossiya will perform at the opening of the book fair and present a concert program featuring Russian folk songs and works by Russian and Soviet composers. Olga Kryakhtunova, an associate professor at the Moscow Aviation Institute’s Department of Russian Language, and Victoria Baturina, an associate professor at MGIMO University’s Department of Russian Language and a candidate of cultural studies, will give Russian language lectures for Cuban schoolchildren and university students.

Roskino is organizing Russian Film Week with support from the Russian Culture Ministry.