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Russia

A touching drama about dementia, a daredevil rock climb and another 007 spoof

Also a teen’s life lessons from skateboarders and a cold war anachronism with submarines

Big sequels to Mamma Mia and The Equalizer plus Joaquin Phoenix and Gus Van Sant’s return with Don’t Worry …

More? How about Mary Shelley, who wrote Frankenstein, Arrhythmia, the real Russia, Prodigals, a BC look eastward, and memories of horror with The Accountant of Auschwitz

Women in films this week: spying, hosting, feeling guilty, living transgender and filling an entire festival

And there are these alternatives: Boost, a Canadian film that should be better known, Nostalgia, about our memories and possessions and Death Wish, a blast of gun porn

Federal Court opens door for former KGB employee to rejoin family in Canada

Mikhail Lennikov voluntarily left six years of church sanctuary in Vancouver just months before a Federal Court overturned his failed application for permanent residence.

Canadian author Ruth Ozeki wins Russian literary award from heir of Leo Tolstoy

Canadian author wins prestigious Russian literary award from Leo Tolstoy's great-great grandson.

More VIFF picks to start the week: Vancouver Asahi, The Fool, Everything Will Be

Hollywood dreams and a Vancouver baseball team lead off today

Asteroid apocalypse presents unique culinary challenges

A run-down of 5 Asteroid Apocalypse Culinary Quandaries and suggested recipes and solutions.

Failed apocalypse cries out for stupidity award

Many concerned citizens went to great lengths in preparation for the Mayan apocalypse of 2012. For the record, it didn’t happen. And while most of us are simply left with an overstocked pantry full...

Four stars for Anna Karenina, less for Hitchcock, Killing Them Softly and Back to 1942

Keira Knightley plays literature’s elegant but most suffering-for-love woman, Anna Karenina.

Exxon nabs Arctic oil deal with Russia

Exxon Mobil has won a deal to explore oil in the Russian part of the  Arctic region. The company reached a deal with Rosneft, Russia's state oil company -- earlier this year, a similar deal was...