news: The Moscow Film Museum

From:
Nikita S. Mikhalkov
Film Director

Att.: General Secretary Mr. Klaus Eder.

Dear Mr. Klaus Eder,

First of all, I would like to express my sincere respect for the company under your guidance, which has enjoyed a well-deserved good international reputation for a long time.

That is why I was puzzled when I incidentally noticed a message on the FIPRESCI website titled "Note of Protection. The Moscow Film Museum. Evicted From KinoZentr". The article, in particular, said that "Mr. Mikchalkov, who is now evicting the Film Museum, is also the director of the Russian Culture Foundation which should work towards the preservation and safeguarding of the cultural heritage of Russia".

I have always believed that, unlike the gutter press and scandal fanciers, FIPRESCI can never afford to publish any unverified information that is false and provocative by nature. As the Chairman of the Union of Film Makers of the Russian Federation, I have consistently struggled for the security of the Cinema Museum. Though, in principle, the Museum has nothing in common with the Union of Film Makers of Russia. The Cinema Museum is an establishment under federal control and it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture to take care of it.

Not to be unfounded, I am sending you the documents that, I think, are more convincing than words. These are my letters addressed to Mr. A. S. Sokolov, Minister of Culture of Russia, dated January 20, 2005, and to Mr. V. V. Putin, President of the Russian Federation, dated January 25, 2005. Besides, I personally spoke with the Russian President, who in my presence instructed the relevant authorities to deal with the future of the Cinema Museum.

In reply, I received a document from the Administration of the Russian President dated February 02, 2005 (enclosed).

Could you please explain how my actions can correspond to the content of the article posted on the FIPRESCI website?

As the Chairman of the Russian Foundation of Culture, a member of the Presidium of the European Cinema Academy, and the Chairman of the Union of Film Makers of the Russian Federation, I cannot disregard any absolutely false, unproven accusations discrediting my name and impairing my reputation.

You are kindly requested to either produce irresistible proof confirming my negative interference in the fate of the Cinema Museum or free me from the unfounded accusations and make a public apology. I would be very grateful if you would reply to this letter within a period of 10 days, otherwise I will find it necessary to submit to the International Court of Justice a claim for compensation for the moral damage sustained.

Sincerely yours,
(signed: Nikita Mikhalkov)
Moscow, March 15, 2005

top