HDFEST Breakthrough Presentation- "The Russian Ark" to be screened in Originating High-Definition Format

HDFEST "the world's only high-definition film festival" will screen renowned film "The Russian Ark" during its four-day event. Admission for this historic digital cinema event is free to the public with pre-registration.

HDFEST announced today that the acclaimed Russian feature film "The Russian Ark" by director Alexander Sokurov will be added to the festival line-up as a "High-Definition Breakthrough Feature Presentation." The screening will take place Saturday June 7th at 7pm at the HD theatre at the Los Angeles Film School, 6363 Sunset Blvd. as part of the HDFEST's Los Angeles event. Tickets are free of charge and only available through pre-registration on the HDFEST website www.hdfest.com. The HDFEST screenings will be one of the public's unique opportunities to see "The Russian Ark" in full high-definition resolution. The film was rated one of the ten best films of 2002 by Time magazine.

Nominated for four HDFEST awards, the film is a breakthrough accomplishment in many ways. Sokurov's choice of high-definition technology to capture the film makes "The Russian Ark" one of the first Russian films ever to use HD as a shooting medium. The film is also comprised of a continuous steadicam shot- another breakthrough achievement in film history. The film consists of a 90 minute panorama of the Hermitage, one of the most famous palaces in Russia and one of the most unique museums in the world. The film's website states "the camera will be switched on and ninety minutes later switched off after proceeding through thirty-five rooms, crossing four centuries, and re-enacting history on the grand scale by means of an array of sophisticated effects. As many as eight hundred and fifty actors and extras will take part in some of the scenes in this unique production." Kenneth Turan from The Los Angeles Times wrote about "The Russian Ark," "an astonishing technological feat, but what is even more remarkable is that the technology does not overwhelm the artistry."    

HDFEST, the world's only high-definition film festival, will screen over 40 high-definition films during this historic digital cinema event. The four-day event will including features, shorts, animations, music videos and documentaries, many of which are world premieres. Panel discussions about high-definition technology related issues will also take place and involve many high-definition filmmakers and pioneers of digital technology. More information about the schedule and the HDFEST history can be found at www.hdfest.com.