The unique Museum of Readers in the Arts Library opened the Year of Russian Cinema with a new exposition “Cinema Begins in the Library.”

The exhibition presented unique documents from the RSAL’s collections that tell of the nearly century-long collaboration between filmmakers and the library. For all these years, cinematographers have turned to the library for materials necessary for the preparation of films. Documentary evidence about the process of creation for many famous movies: requests by film studios, photographs made during shooting, reminiscences, and artists’ sketches for posters formed the exhibits of the exposition.

According to the requests by cinematographers for the RSAL materials—documents, publications, and periodicals—that help plunge one into the historical atmosphere of a future movie, were carefully selected for interesting details, interior features, the stars’ costume design, etc. Screenwriters, directors, artists, and actors rightfully consider specialists at the library to be their co-authors. At times, as a result of this co-authorship, the director’s plan, the interpretation of a role, and the interiors and costumes of a movie changes.

The library preserves and has provided certificates about the joint preparation of famous movies by such directors as Andrei Tarkovsky, Nikita Mikhalkov, Sergei Bondarchuk, and many others.

The entire year of 2016 was declared to be the Year of Russian Cinema and in the Museum readers held creative meetings with famous figures in cinema, many of whom have long been the RSAL’s readers.