The restored version of classical Man with the Movie Camera directed by Dziga Vertov premiered in the Palace Square. 
Message to Man, the international festival of documentary, short-length feature films and animated films has started in St. Petersburg. The opening ceremony took place in the Palace Square.
It was attended by the acting governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Govorunov, and the president of the film festival, Alexey Uchitel.
"The festival has become an event that both filmmakers and viewers are waiting for. High quality of the films, the deep and earnest problems tackled upon by them, and the star names of its filmmakers - this is what distinguishes the St. Petersburg film festival”, - Alexander Govorunov said.
Film director Alexey Uchitel emphasized that this festival gives a chance to get acquainted with the amazing films that you will not see anywhere else.
"The cinema is something that excites us and moves forward, and no one can stop us from watching and loving the cinema," - the president of the festival said at the opening ceremony.
This year more than 7 thousand films from 85 countries were put forward for competitive selection. Alexander Govorunov is sure that the festival has received international recognition due to the fact that it promotes the ideas of humanism, kindness and philanthropy.

"This is what the modern world needs so much, which is understandable and close to all people - regardless of where they live, what color their skin is, and what faith they profess," Alexander Govorunov pointed out.
At the opening ceremony, filmmaker Claude Lanzmann was handed in an award for his contribution into cinema, for his courage and veracity in depicting the history of the 20th century.
The documentary "Man with the Movie Camera" by Dziga Vertov became the film of the festival opening ceremony. The full version of the film, restored by the Dutch film institute EYE was demonstrated in the Palace Square of St. Petersburg. The ceremony was accompanied with the Tavrichesky symphonic orchestra under the conductorship of Mikhail Golikov and the concert of Therr Maitz.
The classical film Man with the Movie Camera was restored by the Dutch film institute EYE. It is based on a copy donated by Dziga Vertov to the Dutch society Filmliga in 1931. The restored version is full-frame, which makes it possible to see the film version, which is closest to the director’s original concept.

The orchestra presented the original musical accompaniment, which sounded at the film premiere back in April 1929: music pieces by composers Pierre Henry, Nigel Humberstone, and Konstantin Listov.
About the Festival
The international film festival Message to Man is running from September 15 to 22. More than 7 thousand applications from 85 countries were sent for the contest in 2017. As a result, 73 works have been selected and will be shown in the three main competition programs of the festival: International Competition, National Competition and Competition for Short Films In Silico.
The program also includes five special programs and three retrospectives by Helena Třeštikova; Boris Dobrodeev and Andrei Paunov.
According to the press service, this year the jury was expected to be headed by the French writer and director Frederic Begbeder, but he could not arrive. Thus director, screenwriter, and producer Harutyun Khachatryan (Armenia) has come to chair the international jury. The special guest of the film festival this year is actor Eric Roberts from the USA (Fugitive Train, Final Analysis, The Best of the Best, and Odyssey).