A short feature with a ridiculously low budget made by a film student from the Russian Far East will be screened at the French Riviera during the big-league International Cannes Film Festival in May.

Believe it or not, it took 19-year-old aspiring filmmaker from Vladivostok Tikhon Makarov just one day to shoot his 7-minute long piece, entitled Department of Culture.

The short film focuses on an unconventional method of criminal correction, the creation of which by the lead character leads to a series of dramatic events.

Makarov plays one of the lead roles, while the script was co-written by his friend, Elena.

He explained that he made Department of Culture looking for sponsors for a full length movie. The only way to promote the story in search for financial support appeared to be to shoot a short film. After it was completed, it was sent to Cannes film festival`s selecting committee and they chose it to be part of its program.

The wannabe director was quoted as saying he is hoping to make it to the South of France with his crew "if we find some money."

"The Cannes festival is a project that can boost you in the Far East. The number of professional filmmakers working in Vladivostok is growing year by year. There are some grandiose prospects for cinema over here, but everything is based only on enthusiasm, it`s hard to find support."

Department of Culture will be featured in the Short Film Corner program of the most influential film festival in the world - Cannes- which has launched the careers of numerous filmmakers from across the globe.
sections: Society, Culture