The festival opened with the movie “Carmo, Hit the Road” directed by Murilo Pasta and starring Fele Martinez, who played leading roles in Pedro Almodovar’s “Bad Education” and “Talk to Her”.

Fele Martinez arrived in Moscow especially for the festival. Ahead of the opening he held a workshop for cinema students and fans. While the man of the hour could walk in freely – and did not miss the chance to do so – mere mortals had to buy tickets for 200 roubles, but true cinema lovers would not grudge this small amount of money for the occasion.

The festival’s program features, among others, the long-awaited movie “Fat People” (Gordos) directed by Daniel Sanchez Arevalo; and “Afterparty”, one of the major Spanish releases in 2009, by promising director Alberto Rodriguez, whose debut “7 Virgins” was crowned with the Goya Prize in 2005.

Also on the program is Javier Gutierrez’s “Three Days”, which has received 11 national and international awards.

The festival runs until January 28.