Valentina Matvienko insisted on holding of international Europe cinema festival "Golden Angel" on St. Petersburg Palace square in July 2006.

A final decision was made after joint meeting of town officials, film directors and Hermitage director Michael Peotrovskii. On meeting in Smol`nii Matvienko guaranteed safety of Hermitage and promised to keep cleanness in special temporary cinema town which will be situated on Palace Square. She insisted that only architectural beauties must define status of "cultural capital". Alexei German and Dmitrii Meshiev agreed with her opinion.

All participants of this meeting were suggested to form organization committee of future festival. One of staunch opponent of "Golden Angel" on Palace square Aleksandr Sokurov said that he was not invited in this committee.

An idea to hold cinema festival near Hermitage walls belongs to famous cinema businessman Mark Rudenstein. He didn?t arrive to meeting in Smol`nii on October 3 but met with Michael Peotrovskii, one of the main opponents. Director of Hermitage noticed that "conversation was not simple" but both sides continue to "find architecture of square".

Michael Litvyakov, the head of Petersburg festival "Message to human" (short, documentary and cartoon films) agreed to change dates of his forum to participate in "Golden Angel" saving at the same time wide autonomy.
sections: Culture, Region News
areas: North-West region