Russian MP Vladimir Zhirinovsky is always happy to embrace his audience.

Russian athlete turned MP Svetlana Horkina: two-time Olympic Champion, three-time absolute European & three-time absolute World Champion in gymnastics. Since December 2007, Svetlana is a Russian MP – State Duma deputy, overseeing youth affairs.

To the amusement of the crowd, Russian tenor singer and TV celebrity Nikolay Baskov forced by a sudden downpour of rain to run to shelter along the empty carpet .

Jury Chairman, norwegian actress Liv Ullmann (left) observing the symbol of her Festival Jury Chairmanship – a precious chain with the image of St George. In a few minutes she would have to return it to the Festival organizers.

Hengameh Ghaziani, actress from Iran, played the main part in award-winning “As Simple As That” (“Be Hamin Sadegi”).

Nikita Mikhalkov, President of the Moscow International Film Festival, enjoying the show. He told the gathering that over the 10 days of the Festival, some 300 films from 45 countries were screened by some 100.000 viewers.

Main Competition Jury of the Moscow International Film Festival (left to right): Irina Rozanova (Russia), Michael Glawogger (Austria), Derek Malcolm (United Kingdom), Sebastian Alarcon (Chile), Liv Ullmann (Norway).

Winner of Best Director Award, 36-year-old Bulgarian Javor Gardev could hardly hide his emotions after receiving the prize for “Zift”, an original black-and-white mix of neo-noir and criminal farce comedy.

French actress Isabelle Huppert receives the “I Belive” Stanislavsky Special Prize from the 30th Moscow International Film Festival for her outstanding film career achievements.

Aleksandr Zhukov, deputy Prime Minister in the Russian Government, receivs an unofficial “Clapper” prize – “For Best Director of performance at Euro-2008”. The souvenir prize is to be handed over to Guus Hiddink, coach of Russian national football team, for reaching Euro-2008 semi-finals.

Reza Mirkarimi, 41-year-old Director from Iran, the proud winner of Best Picture Award for “As Simple As That” (“Be Hamin Sadegi”), a drama about the hidden world of personal emotions and ideas of a housewife. In Moscow, the film received its first international prize.