Happy Birthday, Georgiy Kropachyov! Born today in 1930 as Georgiy Borisovich Kropachyov, this Russian production designer, actor and director is known, among his credits as a production designer, on two films.
These include the 1998 Russian black and white drama/comedy film 'Khrustalyov, mashinu!' ('Khrustalyov, My Car!) and the 2013 Russian black and white science fiction/drama art film 'Trudno byt' bogom' ('Hard to Be a God').
The former premiered at the 51st Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 1998 as part of the main competition for the Palme d'Or award. During the festival, numerous critics walked out of the screening in disapproval due to its obtuse narrative and lengthy "unfunny" scenes of visual satire.
However, American-Italian film director, screenwriter, producer and actor Martin Scorsese, the jury president that year, considered it to be the best film in the 1998 festival.
The latter was reported to have been renamed to 'The History of the Arkanar Massacre'. The press had also mentioned the alternative title 'The Carnage in Arkanare', and a film script published under the title "What said the tobacconist from Tobacco Street".
Later, the title was reverted to 'Hard to Be a God' and received universal acclaim from English-language and non Russian-language critics alike.
As a filmmaker, Kropachyov is best known for co-writing and co-directing the 1967 Soviet horror/fantasy film 'Viy (Spirit of Evil'). For the film, he had worked alongside Russian actor, screenwriter and film director Konstantin Ershov.
'Viy' was aslo co-writtern by Soviet animation and fantasy film director, and a People's Artist of the USSR Aleksandr Ptushko. He is frequently (and somewhat misleadingly) referred to as "the Soviet Walt Disney," due to his prominent early role in animation in the Soviet Union.
Shot in color, the film follows a group of seminary students, who from the city go on summer break, drunkenly wandering the countryside. They eventually end up lost, and spend a night in the company of Vedma (Nikolay Kutuzov), a haggard witch.
A scuffle breaks out, and one of the students, Khoma (Leonid Kuravlyov), murders the old crone. Only it turns out that he really killed a beautiful landowner's daughter, Pannochka (Natalya Varley).
For his act, he now must sit with the corpse in a small old wooden church for three days in a remote village, protecting it from evil spirits...and protecting himself with his own faith.
The film follows the original tale in a somewhat loose fashion, but manages to retain the majority of the images and action.
For his act, he now must sit with the corpse in a small old wooden church for three days in a remote village, protecting it from evil spirits...and protecting himself with his own faith.
The film follows the original tale in a somewhat loose fashion, but manages to retain the majority of the images and action.
'Viy' had been based off of Russian dramatist of Ukrainian descent Nikolai Gogol's eponymous 1835 Russian horror fiction novella Viy (also translated as The Viy).
The film was distributed by Mosfilm, and was the first Soviet-era horror film to be officially released in the USSR. It is considered to be the first Soviet horror film as well.
Kropachyov had been active from 1960-2013.
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With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is a platform for creative expression and immersive entertainment.
Today, the 18th Tribeca Film Festival...is officially postponed due to coronavirus.
With that said, here’s a little history...
The Tribeca Film Festival is a prominent film festival held in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan, New York, showcasing a diverse selection of independent films.
The event was founded in 2002 by Robert De Niro, American film producer Jane Rosenthal and New York real estate investor and philanthropist Craig Hatkoff.
This was reportedly in response to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the Tribeca neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York, although there are reports that its founding was underway prior to the events of 9/11.
Since its inaugural year in 2002, the festival has become a recognized outlet for independent filmmakers in all genres to release their work to a broad audience.
The event also brings visionaries and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all of its forms, including film, television, virtual reality, gaming, music, and online work.
With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is a platform for creative expression and immersive entertainment.
The festival champions emerging and established voices; discovers award-winning filmmakers and creators; curates innovative experiences; and introduces new technology and ideas through premieres, exhibitions, talks, and live performances.
Tribeca now draws an estimated three million people—including often-elusive celebrities from the worlds of art, film, and music—and generates $600 million annually.
Best of luck to the winners...next year?
#coronavirussucks
#TRIBECA2020
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