PSKOV, August 4. /Dunyo IA/.  The VII “Western Gate” International Film Festival was held in the Pskov region of Russia with the support of the Regional Government and the Ministry of Culture of Russia, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

A landmark event of the cultural program was the participation of the People's Artist of Uzbekistan Rustam Sagdullaev, who joined the professional jury of the international feature film competition.

Following the screening, Rustam Sagdullaev was presented with the special “Life in Cinema” award for his outstanding contribution to the development of cinematography. Notably, the solemn presentation of the award coincided with the actor's 76th birthday, celebrated on July 25. Rustam Sagdullaev is widely known to the Russian audience for his iconic roles in such films as “Only “Old Men” Are Going Into Battle” and “Big Sky”, which emphasizes his significance within the shared cultural heritage of the two countries.

Scale of the event is confirmed by its rich program, which brought together about one hundred films from Russia and foreign nations, including delegations from India, Kazakhstan, China, Tajikistan, Belgium and Hungary. The festival featured gala premieres, retrospectives of classics, professional discussions, creative meetings, as well as the “KinoStart” competition for emerging filmmakers, all of which collectively contributed to the effective strengthening of intercultural dialogue and the exchange of professional experience.