25th Moscow international film festival to begin on June 20

A regular Moscow international film festival will be held on June 20 through 29 in the Russian capital. It will be a 25th festival since 1959, Alexander Golutva, Russian deputy culture minister, said at a news conference.

Nineteen films will be shown at the contest. Three of them are Russian - Walk by director Alexei Uchitel, St.Petersburg by Yelena Yevseyeva and Koktebel by Boris Khlebnikov. The film jury will be led by Russian film director Sergei Bodrov.

Festival films will be on show at the largest three cinema houses and the Moscow House of Cinematographers. Fanny Ardent, Gina Lollobrigida, Sophy Marseau and other foreign guests are expected to come to the Moscow film festival.

The government has allocated 2.4 million dollars, or two thirds of the expenses for the festival (72 million roubles). Sponsors will allocate one third, said Golutva.