{mosimage}Joining MIFF helmer Nikita Mikhalkov on the green carpet at the packed 2000 seat Cinema Rossiya were actors John Malkovich, Shia La Beouf and director Michal Bay to present the film. Malkovich received a lifetime achievement award during the opening ceremony. Mikhalkov was also joined by actress Geraldine Chaplin who will helm this year's competition jury.

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MIFF has a well established reputation for glamour and glitz at its events and the opening night was no exception with Russian stars in designer fashion well in evidence among the guests and an all night party on the banks of Gorky Park for hundreds of guests including the Transformer and Paramount team.

Overseas buyers now account for more than 70 percent of Hollywood box office revenue so the trend for venues' like Moscow host more Hollywood world premiers is assured. The Russian box office topped 1 billion USD last year.

{mosimage}MIFF has a major emphasis on films from central and Eastern Europe this year with films from Poland, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Austria, Georgia, Hungary and Serbia among the 17 films in the main competition as well as two Russian films. With the rapidly growing Russian box office the Russian market is a major target for growth for most central and Eastern European distributors.

SPONSORED by Moscow International Film Festival
http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/