Moscow Film Festival advanced due to World Cup

Running dates for latest edition of Moscow International Film Festival has moved up due to 2018 soccer World Cup in Russia.

According to a media report, the filmfest--originally scheduled to take place late June-- has been moved to April due to the FIFA World Cup hosted by Russia from June 14 to July 15.

Leonid Vereshchagin, a member of the festival's organizing committee, explained that the World Cup will be the main focus of attention in the country in late June.

"Holding the festival in its traditional dates will be impossible because of unavailability of hotel rooms, because of transport issues and diversion of potential audiences' interest” Leonid Vereshchagin said.

He added that the decision was agreed with the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAFP), which is in charge of running major international festivals.

The festival's exact dates in April are yet to be decided.

ES/AG