KHANTY-MANSIYSK, August 12. /TASS/. Russia plans to launch an exchange of culturally oriented films with India and Brazil, with in-person venues such as festivals and screenings providing the most effective format, Nikolay Dann, director of the Zero Plus online cinema and a Russian filmmaker, told TASS.

"This work is beginning with experts from India and Brazil. We are starting to select films for children and young people together with them," he said.

According to Dann, in-person venues offer the best format for developing cultural film exchanges. "I tried organizing such venues in Sochi, where the major Eurasia Kinofest was held recently. We managed to bring together filmmakers and representatives of filmmakers’ associations from various countries. It is always better to do this in person rather than online," he said.

Dann said the idea of international cultural exchange first came to him in 2014, when the first Zero Plus International Children’s and Family Film Festival was held. He proposed that countries compile collections of 10 films reflecting cultural values. He said the selection should include neither blockbusters nor arthouse films, but films that convey values. Such an approach would bring countries closer together, the filmmaker believes.