An international film festival under the theme of "People and Environment" kicked off Friday in this central southern Russian city.

The four-day X Baikal International Festival of Documentary, Popular-Science and Educational Films aims at serving "as a platform to make people think about inter-relations between mankind and nature," organizers said.

A number of films from Russia, Australia, Brazil, Germany and some other countries will compete for the awards of Best Documentary, Best Popular-Science Film, Best Educational Film and Best Film for Children.

X Baikal International Festival was initiated in 1999, and has been held annually since 2007.