The 12th International Festival of Muslim Cinema has started in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan.

A closed press-screening of the opening film «Muhammad — the messenger of God» made by Iranian director Majid Majidi was held.

This year the festival features 60 films from 33 countries.

Headed by a famous director, national Russian artist, the USSR State prize laureate Alexander Proshkin, the jury includes director, screenwriter and producer Siddiq Barmak (Afghanistan/France); director and cinematographer Usman Saparov (Turkmenistan), director and scriptwriter Yusuf Razykov (Uzbekistan/Russia); cameraman Valery Sevastyanov (Tatarstan).