Russian cultural scene - Muted and hidden

In Russia, hears, and sees the government not only with, but as the first. And if a movie or Song bothers you too much, is deleted. But the censorship also stimulates resistance.

By Christine Auerbach, ARD Studio in Moscow

In the largest hall of the cinema "October" in the center of Moscow, it's like any other cinema hall before the Film begins: Tense Wait, the people are glad to get a Ticket for the international documentary film festival "artdocfest". And then for A Minute the names of about 60 films to run on the giant screen. Movies, you can't see it this year at the Festival.

The Ministry of culture look exactly the way

"The Festival is held, but of the 127 films that we have selected, we may only show less than half. Nowhere in Russia, these films may be shown," says Vitali Manski, the organizer of the festival.

Because in Russia there are more and more laws that make it small, independent Festivals and movies hard. So, in the meantime, any Film that is to publicly run must be at the Ministry of culture accredited. And since December, every international film festival.

For the filmmakers that means a lot of organizational effort that can only be managed, who is big, known, or a lot of money in the back. For German this is "a cultural disaster" and a censorship by the back door, because the Ministry of culture intervenes.

Prohibited, or shortened

've felt lately already greater films than the documentaries of Manski: The Satire "death of Stalin" was not allowed to be shown in Russia, with the justification, the leadership of the USSR was portrayed as too stupid. The Drama of "Matilda," about an affair of Tsar Nicholas II. ensured the prohibition of claims for alleged blasphemy. And also, the movie "Leviathan" came out only in a censored version in the Russian cinema.