PITT TO SPONSOR RUSSIAN FILM SYMPOSIUM

PITTSBURGH, April 19 -- A Russian Film Symposium featuring the latest Russian films, new directors and experimental short features is being presented by the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museum of Art, and Pittsburgh Filmmakers at their Oakland locations on Thursday through Sunday, May 6 - 23.

The symposium is organized in three segments: "New Russia/New Cinema," 35mm print screenings of the latest Russian films; "New Russia/New Experiments," short experimental films including animation; and "New Russia/New Directors," the scholarly portion of the program featuring the newest Russian directors. The event is open to the public. Private press screenings can be arranged by calling Vladimir Padunov at 412-624-5713 or padunov+@pitt.edu.

Films to be shown in Carnegie Museum of Art for the "New Cinema" segment of the symposium are Valerii Todorovskii's "Land of the Deaf" (1998) on Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m.; Aleksei Balabanov's "Of Freaks and Men" (1998) on Friday, May 7 at 7 p.m.; Kira Muratova's "Three Stories," (1997) on Saturday, May 8 at 7 p.m.; and Sergei Ovcharov's "Drumiad," (1993) on Sunday, May 9 at

2 p.m. Each of these films will be repeated a second time later in the month. For information on this segment call 412-622-3212.

"New Experiments," presented at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, 477 Melwood Avenue, includes New Russian Experimental Shorts: Cine Fantom Club on Thursday, May 6 at 4 p.m.; New Russian Animations: Shar Studios, Ivan Maksimov and Leonid Tishkov on Friday, May 7 at 4 p.m.; Press interviews and discussions with directors Aleksandr Bashirov, Petr Lutsik, and Larissa Sadilova on Saturday, May 8 at 4 p.m.; and New Russian Experimental Videos: Vladimir Kobrin and his students Leonid Tishkov, Aleksandr Molodkin and Vitalii Bashmolkin on Sunday, May 9 at 4 p.m. For information on "New Experiments" call 412-681-5449.

The academic portion of the program "New Directors," held at the University of Pittsburgh's David Lawrence Hall, will be presented in Russian and English. Films to be shown include Petr Lutsik's "Borderland" (1998) on Friday, May 7 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.; Aleksandr Bashirov's "The Iron Heel of the Oligarchy" (1998) on Friday, May 7 from 1 to 3:30 p.m.; Nikolai Lebedev's "Snake Source" (1998) on Saturday, May 8 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.; and Larissa Sadilova's "Happy Birthday!" (1998) on Saturday, May 8 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. For information on this segment contact Vladimir Padunov at 412-624-5713 or padunov+@pitt.edu.

Three directors, Bashirov, Lutsik, and Sadilova, will attend the scholarly presentation at Pitt's David Lawrence Hall. There will be a closing roundtable for all participants on Sunday, May 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Beehive,

3807 Forbes Avenue, Oakland.

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