'As some seasoned filmmakers say, the Vyborg International Film Festival 'Window to Europe' is a sort of mini Cannes in our European city. Elegant. Professional. A good deal of business activity. Much fun.'
Radio Channel One, broadcasting for Vyborg
'Our festival has grown up and matured. Filmmakers are attracted to Vyborg by its beautiful setting. The festival helps films to find a broader audience.'
'The hall roared with laughter and applause for the festival's opening screening of The President and His Woman (dir. Elena Raiskaya). The film cast a spell on the audience.'
'Our festival will have a long life. The people who organised and attended it agreed. Film stars walked our streets, mixed with us and signed autographs. More importantly, we see good films for the whole week. We really miss the films the rest of the year.'
The front page of 'Vyborgskye Vedomosti' (Vyborg News Weekly)
'It was a very smoothly organised festival. Good luck to Vyborg '97.'
Sergei Krasavchenko, cultural advisor to Boris Yeltsin
