Marlen Khutsiev passes away

Legendary Soviet and Russian filmmaker and People’s Artist of the USSR Marlen Khutsiev has died at the age of 93, a spokesman for the Russian Union of Cinematographers said.

"Marlen Martynovich died today at 07:00 a.m.," TASS cited the spokesman as saying. The farewell ceremony is expected to be held at Moscow’s Cinema House.

Khutsiev had been hospitalized ahead of the New Year together with his wife Irina Solovyova, who died on January 4 in intensive care.

The Georgian-born filmmaker is best known for his cult films from the 1960s, including Spring on Zarechnaya Street, July Rain and I Am Twenty.