The closing ceremony of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival took place at the Rossiya Theater. The Indian film Desire, directed by Fazil Razak, received the main prize. A total of ten prizes were awarded at the festival to recognize the best works in the competition program.
Jury members, participants of the competition programs of the Moscow International Film Festival and guests of the festival –Elizaveta Boyarskaya, Yanina Studilina, Valeriya Gai Germanika with her daughter, Lukerya Ilyashenko, Yulia Volkova, Pavel and Zepyur Priluchny, Kristina Asmus, Tasha Belaya, Lyaysan Utyasheva, Darya Ekamasova, Stacy Tolstoy, Anna Banshchikova, Ekaterina Volkova, Ekaterina Guseva, Dmitry Dyuzhev, Sofya Skya, Olga Smirnova, Vladimir Yaglych and Tonya Papernaya, Ekaterina Klimova among other guestswalked the red carpet leading to the theater.
The screenwriter and producer Andrey Zolotarev hosted the ceremony. First, he presented the Audience Choice Award, the Key to the Hearts of the Audience, to the Russian film The Father, which was part of the Main Competition of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival. The director Pavel Ivanov received the award.
Pavel Ivanov: "The Audience Choice Award is the best prize our film could receive. Thanks a lot to the Moscow International Film Festival for the opportunity to screen the film and receive this award, which means so much to us".
This was followed by awarding the Silver St. George for the best short film. The jury of this competition included the Russian actress Kristina Asmus, the Japanese filmmaker Masaki Inoue, and the Greek director, actor, translator and theater director Georgios Kimoulis (Jury Chair).
Masaki Inoue: "All the entries were very strong, so I’d like to tell all the participants of the Short Film Competition that each of their films is a major achievement, and that they should keep creating films".
The Silver St. George for the Best Film in the Short Film Competition – Nowhere, Somewhere, directed by An Hueilin, South Korea
An Hueilin: "In this film, I’ve partly reflected my own life. That’s why I’d like to dedicate this award to my mother, who is here with me on stage and will be celebrating her 60th birthday in two months. Without her and the older generation, this film would never have been possible".
The Documentary Film Competition of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival was judged by the Chinese director Pan Zhiqi, the Russian filmmaker Vladimir Golovnev, and the Italian director, screenwriter and producer Daniele Cini.
Vladimir Golovnev: "We have only one prize, but as a last resort, we were allowed to make a special mention. And we decided that our case is good to be such a last resort. The subject of a documentary entrusts part of their life and fate to the director, so we would like to honor the character of the film Mashenka with a special mention for her honesty and courage. And we’d like to award the prize to this local story of an ordinary person, through whose eyes we saw a vast country and the whole world".
The Silver St. George for the Best Documentary Film – A Long Way Home, directed by Zheng Xusong, China
Zheng Xusong: "As they say in Russia, a fish looks for deeper waters, and people look for better places. That is precisely why we are all here at the Moscow International Film Festival. I thank the jury for their high praise of our film. Receiving this award, I do not distance myself from ordinary people. In China, there is also a proverb: "The greatest sound is barely audible, and the greatest image has no form". So, I believe, awards like these belong to quiet voices like that of my film's character".
This year’s winner of the Russian Premiere Competition was selected by the directors, screenwriters and producers Vladimir Kott and Anton Maslov, and the actress Anna Banshchikova.
Vladimir Kott: "It was an incredible competition, and budgets and big names didn’t matter to us: what mattered most was the sincerity. And the winning film was incredibly sincere".
The Silver St. George for the Best Film in the Russian Premiere Competition – The Temperature of the Universe, directed by Viktor Shamirov, Russia
Viktor Shamirov: "I sometimes try to find logic in life, but I can’t find any in this event: it feels so strange and unexpected to receive this award, which I would like to dedicate to the experts of the observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It makes me happy and gives me hope that there are still people whose profession is about the stars".
The jury of the Main Competition of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival included the popular Chinese actress and singer Jin Sha, the Turkish filmmaker Mahmut Fazıl Çoşkun, the Russian director, screenwriter and producer Ivan I. Tverdovskiy, the Spanish director Javier Rebollo, the Russian actress Darya Ekamasova, and Jury Chair Prasanna Vitanage, one of South Asia’s most talented and influential filmmakers.
Darya Ekamasova: "We had an amazing team with whom we screened 13 films, and it was a shame they only won five awards, this is really very few. Especially since most of the films featured leading female roles. This new era of female main characters really inspires me".
The Silver St. George for the Best Actress – Amrutha Krishnakumar, Desire, India
Razak Ahmed, the producer of the film Desire: "Our film is about toxic relationships, where women are often the victimized. And I would like to thank the festival jury for recognizing our work".
The Silver St. George for the Best Performance by an Actor – Sergey Gilev, Vygotsky, Russia
Mahmut Fazıl Çoşkun, a member of the jury: "The actor prize is awarded to an actor who could best show on the screen the life of a true personality, who stood up for his rights and convictions, with no regard for himself or his health".
The director of the film, Anton Bilzho, and the producer Egor Odintsov, received the award thanking the film festival for this honor.
The Special Jury Prize was awarded by the Spanish filmmaker Javier Rebollo, who noted that the Moscow International Film Festival could be called the best in the world in terms of "warmth and organization".
The Special Jury Prize, the Silver St. George – The Redemption, directed by Daniel Guzman, Spain, Romania
Daniel Guzman: "I’m overwhelmed with emotion, and first and foremost, I want to thank the festival for selecting our film. This is a significant and tremendous honor for me, but I want to share this award and dedicate the film to the older generation".
The award for the Best Director was awarded by the Russian director and producer Ivan I. Tverdovsky, who noted that this year’s main competition of the Moscow International Film Festival was very strong and that the choice was quite difficult for the jury.
The Silver St. George for the Best Director – Vygotsky, directed by Anton Bilzho, Russia
Anton Bilzho: "I’m speechless – thank you so much! This is a fantastic prize for our film and the entire team that made it possible. Thank you all so much! And I dedicate this award to my parents".
The Golden St. George for the Best Film in the Main Competition was awarded by the popular Chinese actress and singer Jin Sha and the jury chair, Prasanna Vitanage, one of South Asia’s most prominent filmmakers.
The Golden St. George for the Best Film – Desire, directed by Fazil Razak, India.
Fazil Razak: "This is my second film, and it’s a huge achievement for me not only to have been selected for the Moscow International Film Festival’s competition, but also to win awards here. A million thanks to the festival organizers, our entire film crew, and the audience".
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the host Andrey Zolotarev put off from the jury chair the traditional chain of power, honor, and dignity featuring an image of St. George the Victorious.
Prasanna Vitanage: "The jury’s task is not to enjoy the power, but to use it to support filmmakers. I hope that, together with my colleagues, by giving our awards, we can help those who have no voice".
Then Andrey Zolotarev and Prasanna Vitanage announced the closing of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival.
The last work of the outstanding director Wolfgang Becker, Berlin Hero, became the closing film of the festival. The Russian producers – Gavriil Gordeev, Executive Producer, Okko, and Ivan Samokhvalov, a producer of Sreda film company – introduced the film.
Winners of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival
The Best Film – DESIRE, produced by Razak Ahamed, directed by Fazil Razak (India)
The Best Director – ANTON BILZHO, Vygotsky (Russia)
The Special Jury Prize – The Redemption, directed by Daniel Guzman (Spain, Romania)
The Best Film in the Russian Premieres Competition – The Temperature of the Universe, directed by Viktor Shamirov
The Best Actor – SERGEY GILEV, Vygotsky (Russia)
The Best Actress – AMRUTHA KRISHNAKUMAR, Desire (India)
The Best Film in the Documentary Film Competition – A Long Way Home, directed by Zheng Xusong (China)
The Special Mention of the Documentary Film Competition Jury – Mashenka, directed by Valeriya Gai Germanika
The Best Film in the Short Film Competition – NOWHERE, SOMEWHERE, directed by An Hueilin (Republic of Korea)
The Audience Choice Award – The Father, directed by Pavel Ivanov (Russia)
******
Russian Copper Company is an official partner of 48th Moscow International Film Festival.
Mercury Jewelry Company remains a partner of the Moscow International Film Festival, continuing its tradition of supporting Russia’s most significant cultural events, including cinema-related projects.
Mercury Jewelry crafted the main prizes of the Festival: the figurines of Saint George riding a silver horse and slaying a dragon with a spear. The Golden Saint George figurine is made of gilded silver and the Silver Saint George is crafted from silver. The base of the figurine is made of serpentine, featuring the gold Mercury logo.
The Golden St. George is awarded for the best film in the competition program and for the contribution to world cinema. Winners in the seven categories are awarded with a Silver St. George.
VOYAH premium electric and hybrid car brand is an official partner of 48th Moscow International Film Festival.
MAER Media Holding is the communication partner of 48th Moscow International Film Festival.
A team of make-up artists of Russian Beauty Guru (RBG) and hair stylists of HIGHLIGHTS COSMETICS, in the historic beauty salon Dolores, prepared the actresses for their walk on the red carpet of the closing ceremony of the festival.
Jury members, participants of the competition programs of the Moscow International Film Festival and guests of the festival –Elizaveta Boyarskaya, Yanina Studilina, Valeriya Gai Germanika with her daughter, Lukerya Ilyashenko, Yulia Volkova, Pavel and Zepyur Priluchny, Kristina Asmus, Tasha Belaya, Lyaysan Utyasheva, Darya Ekamasova, Stacy Tolstoy, Anna Banshchikova, Ekaterina Volkova, Ekaterina Guseva, Dmitry Dyuzhev, Sofya Skya, Olga Smirnova, Vladimir Yaglych and Tonya Papernaya, Ekaterina Klimova among other guestswalked the red carpet leading to the theater.
The screenwriter and producer Andrey Zolotarev hosted the ceremony. First, he presented the Audience Choice Award, the Key to the Hearts of the Audience, to the Russian film The Father, which was part of the Main Competition of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival. The director Pavel Ivanov received the award.
Pavel Ivanov: "The Audience Choice Award is the best prize our film could receive. Thanks a lot to the Moscow International Film Festival for the opportunity to screen the film and receive this award, which means so much to us".
This was followed by awarding the Silver St. George for the best short film. The jury of this competition included the Russian actress Kristina Asmus, the Japanese filmmaker Masaki Inoue, and the Greek director, actor, translator and theater director Georgios Kimoulis (Jury Chair).
Masaki Inoue: "All the entries were very strong, so I’d like to tell all the participants of the Short Film Competition that each of their films is a major achievement, and that they should keep creating films".
The Silver St. George for the Best Film in the Short Film Competition – Nowhere, Somewhere, directed by An Hueilin, South Korea
An Hueilin: "In this film, I’ve partly reflected my own life. That’s why I’d like to dedicate this award to my mother, who is here with me on stage and will be celebrating her 60th birthday in two months. Without her and the older generation, this film would never have been possible".
The Documentary Film Competition of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival was judged by the Chinese director Pan Zhiqi, the Russian filmmaker Vladimir Golovnev, and the Italian director, screenwriter and producer Daniele Cini.
Vladimir Golovnev: "We have only one prize, but as a last resort, we were allowed to make a special mention. And we decided that our case is good to be such a last resort. The subject of a documentary entrusts part of their life and fate to the director, so we would like to honor the character of the film Mashenka with a special mention for her honesty and courage. And we’d like to award the prize to this local story of an ordinary person, through whose eyes we saw a vast country and the whole world".
The Silver St. George for the Best Documentary Film – A Long Way Home, directed by Zheng Xusong, China
Zheng Xusong: "As they say in Russia, a fish looks for deeper waters, and people look for better places. That is precisely why we are all here at the Moscow International Film Festival. I thank the jury for their high praise of our film. Receiving this award, I do not distance myself from ordinary people. In China, there is also a proverb: "The greatest sound is barely audible, and the greatest image has no form". So, I believe, awards like these belong to quiet voices like that of my film's character".
This year’s winner of the Russian Premiere Competition was selected by the directors, screenwriters and producers Vladimir Kott and Anton Maslov, and the actress Anna Banshchikova.
Vladimir Kott: "It was an incredible competition, and budgets and big names didn’t matter to us: what mattered most was the sincerity. And the winning film was incredibly sincere".
The Silver St. George for the Best Film in the Russian Premiere Competition – The Temperature of the Universe, directed by Viktor Shamirov, Russia
Viktor Shamirov: "I sometimes try to find logic in life, but I can’t find any in this event: it feels so strange and unexpected to receive this award, which I would like to dedicate to the experts of the observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It makes me happy and gives me hope that there are still people whose profession is about the stars".
The jury of the Main Competition of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival included the popular Chinese actress and singer Jin Sha, the Turkish filmmaker Mahmut Fazıl Çoşkun, the Russian director, screenwriter and producer Ivan I. Tverdovskiy, the Spanish director Javier Rebollo, the Russian actress Darya Ekamasova, and Jury Chair Prasanna Vitanage, one of South Asia’s most talented and influential filmmakers.
Darya Ekamasova: "We had an amazing team with whom we screened 13 films, and it was a shame they only won five awards, this is really very few. Especially since most of the films featured leading female roles. This new era of female main characters really inspires me".
The Silver St. George for the Best Actress – Amrutha Krishnakumar, Desire, India
Razak Ahmed, the producer of the film Desire: "Our film is about toxic relationships, where women are often the victimized. And I would like to thank the festival jury for recognizing our work".
The Silver St. George for the Best Performance by an Actor – Sergey Gilev, Vygotsky, Russia
Mahmut Fazıl Çoşkun, a member of the jury: "The actor prize is awarded to an actor who could best show on the screen the life of a true personality, who stood up for his rights and convictions, with no regard for himself or his health".
The director of the film, Anton Bilzho, and the producer Egor Odintsov, received the award thanking the film festival for this honor.
The Special Jury Prize was awarded by the Spanish filmmaker Javier Rebollo, who noted that the Moscow International Film Festival could be called the best in the world in terms of "warmth and organization".
The Special Jury Prize, the Silver St. George – The Redemption, directed by Daniel Guzman, Spain, Romania
Daniel Guzman: "I’m overwhelmed with emotion, and first and foremost, I want to thank the festival for selecting our film. This is a significant and tremendous honor for me, but I want to share this award and dedicate the film to the older generation".
The award for the Best Director was awarded by the Russian director and producer Ivan I. Tverdovsky, who noted that this year’s main competition of the Moscow International Film Festival was very strong and that the choice was quite difficult for the jury.
The Silver St. George for the Best Director – Vygotsky, directed by Anton Bilzho, Russia
Anton Bilzho: "I’m speechless – thank you so much! This is a fantastic prize for our film and the entire team that made it possible. Thank you all so much! And I dedicate this award to my parents".
The Golden St. George for the Best Film in the Main Competition was awarded by the popular Chinese actress and singer Jin Sha and the jury chair, Prasanna Vitanage, one of South Asia’s most prominent filmmakers.
The Golden St. George for the Best Film – Desire, directed by Fazil Razak, India.
Fazil Razak: "This is my second film, and it’s a huge achievement for me not only to have been selected for the Moscow International Film Festival’s competition, but also to win awards here. A million thanks to the festival organizers, our entire film crew, and the audience".
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the host Andrey Zolotarev put off from the jury chair the traditional chain of power, honor, and dignity featuring an image of St. George the Victorious.
Prasanna Vitanage: "The jury’s task is not to enjoy the power, but to use it to support filmmakers. I hope that, together with my colleagues, by giving our awards, we can help those who have no voice".
Then Andrey Zolotarev and Prasanna Vitanage announced the closing of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival.
The last work of the outstanding director Wolfgang Becker, Berlin Hero, became the closing film of the festival. The Russian producers – Gavriil Gordeev, Executive Producer, Okko, and Ivan Samokhvalov, a producer of Sreda film company – introduced the film.
Winners of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival
The Best Film – DESIRE, produced by Razak Ahamed, directed by Fazil Razak (India)
The Best Director – ANTON BILZHO, Vygotsky (Russia)
The Special Jury Prize – The Redemption, directed by Daniel Guzman (Spain, Romania)
The Best Film in the Russian Premieres Competition – The Temperature of the Universe, directed by Viktor Shamirov
The Best Actor – SERGEY GILEV, Vygotsky (Russia)
The Best Actress – AMRUTHA KRISHNAKUMAR, Desire (India)
The Best Film in the Documentary Film Competition – A Long Way Home, directed by Zheng Xusong (China)
The Special Mention of the Documentary Film Competition Jury – Mashenka, directed by Valeriya Gai Germanika
The Best Film in the Short Film Competition – NOWHERE, SOMEWHERE, directed by An Hueilin (Republic of Korea)
The Audience Choice Award – The Father, directed by Pavel Ivanov (Russia)
******
Russian Copper Company is an official partner of 48th Moscow International Film Festival.
Mercury Jewelry Company remains a partner of the Moscow International Film Festival, continuing its tradition of supporting Russia’s most significant cultural events, including cinema-related projects.
Mercury Jewelry crafted the main prizes of the Festival: the figurines of Saint George riding a silver horse and slaying a dragon with a spear. The Golden Saint George figurine is made of gilded silver and the Silver Saint George is crafted from silver. The base of the figurine is made of serpentine, featuring the gold Mercury logo.
The Golden St. George is awarded for the best film in the competition program and for the contribution to world cinema. Winners in the seven categories are awarded with a Silver St. George.
VOYAH premium electric and hybrid car brand is an official partner of 48th Moscow International Film Festival.
MAER Media Holding is the communication partner of 48th Moscow International Film Festival.
A team of make-up artists of Russian Beauty Guru (RBG) and hair stylists of HIGHLIGHTS COSMETICS, in the historic beauty salon Dolores, prepared the actresses for their walk on the red carpet of the closing ceremony of the festival.