Ukraine’s ambassador against Russian film at Karlovy Vary

Ukraine’s ambassador to Prague, Yevhen Perebyinis, has protested against the inclusion of a Russian work in the programme of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, which begins on Friday.

In a letter to festival chief Jiří Bartoška, the diplomat said the movie Capitan Volkonogov Escaped had been made with Russian state support and its makers had worked on Russian propaganda films.

The festival’s artistic director, Karel Och, said previously that Karlovy Vary did not wish to boycott the work of Russian filmmakers.

The festival has expressed support for Ukrainian cinema since Russia invaded the country and is presenting works in progress in cooperation with a festival in Odessa which was unable to take place.