The next instalment of the traditional Russian Film Week has kicked off in Berlin. This year it comes as part of the “Russia/Germany 2012-2013” cross culture year.

The week will showcase short movies, documentaries and feature films by both renowned directors and producers and the graduates of the most prestigious Russian film schools, including the oldest film school in the world – the Russian State University of Cinematography (VGIK).

The program line-up includes "Steel Butterfly" by Renat Davletyarov (the opening film); "Stories" by Mikhail Segal, "Idlers" by Andrei Zaitsev, "Conversation" by Sergei Komarov, "Until the Night Do Us Part" by Boris Khlebnikov, and others.

The festival will also screen “Winter, Go Away!” a documentary following the Russian opposition movement up to May this year, when Vladimir Putin was re-elected President of Russia. The film won the Golden Leopard award at this year's Locarno Film Festival.

The Film Week is being held in the German capital for the eighth time.

• A Permanent Economic Emergency