Russian filmmakers that disagree with the policy of the Union of Cinematographers headed by Nikita Mikhalkov are going to establish a new Union that “would protect interests of national art”.
      
      It has been declared in the announcement published at the official website of the Guild of Film Critics. The document, in particular, reads that opponents of Nikita Mikhalkov dislike his “totalitarian directing style”, “congresses in the Kremlin” and the project of the Cinematographers Union’s new statute, which threatens the existence of professional guilds.
      
      Authors of the proclamation emphasize that the atmosphere in the Union promotes validation of “anticonstitutional and antidemocratic ideas in the society”.
      
      Among the signers there are film directors Eldar Ryazanov, Aleksei German Sr, Aleksander Sokurov, and Vitaly Mansky, art critic Daniil Dondurei, scriptwriter Rustam Ibragimbekov, and other renowned cinematographers.
      
      Officially the foundation of the new professional association will be announced at the special congress of the Union of Cinematographers to take place in the late April 2010.
      
      It is a reminder that Nikita Mikhalkov was elected the Union’s chairman in March 2009 at an extra congress after the congress, which appointed Marlen Khutsiyev to be the chairman, was announced illegitimate.
      
      Source: proua.com