Open Festival of comedy films "Smile, Russia!"

"Laugh means love to mankind" - these words of the great Russian writer Lev Tolstoi are the motto of the Festival. Considering this idea absolutely right and establishing the universal right and inherent need of every human being to laugh at everything and himself, as well as considering the purpose to help people to see, to hear and to smile as important as never before, and considering the cinematography as the most wide-spread and the most consolidating art, WE, the Russian comedy cinematographers establish the Festival of comedy films "Smile, Russia!" with the noble aim of promotion and rewarding of Russian movies and documentary comedy films.

Open Festival of comedy films takes place in Great Novgorod on November 3-6. It is organized by the Ministry of Culture of Russian Federation, the Unit of cinematographers of Russian Federation and independent nonprofit organization PoZitive Film Studio. This annual Festival was founded by film director, national artist of Russian Federation Alla Surikova.
Due to arrangement with Novgorod government the Festival takes place in Great Novgorod. The chairmen of Organizing Committee is the governor of Novgorod area Mikhail Prusak. President of the Festival is Alla Surikova, prime minister - Nikolai Karachentsov, Director General - Larisa Blank. The Jury is headed by Leonid Kuravlev and Victor Smirnov. Similar meetings "Smile, Russia!" (with participation of movie stars) are repeated in different cities during each year.

Main award of the Festival - "Crooked mirror" is given for the contribution to Comedy. The prize was created by Elena Nekrasova and Georgij Gitis.
The Festival is opened with the anthem. It was presented to Alla Surikova by the composers Nikita Bogoslovsky and Alla Sivasheva in 2000. Words of Boris Dubrovin hit the target. "While you live laugh as often as you can, while you laugh - you are alive". The Festival program includes: New Russian comedy and music films. Comedy programs for kids. Comedy documentary and video films. New comedies tying products: commercials, clips, TV-programs.