“ASCEPTION” TO THE PROFESSION
From September 25 to 29, the All-Russian State University of Cinematography named after S. A. Gerasimov hosted the project “Film Education: Joint Educational Projects of the CIS Member States”, within the framework of which the first international student festival “Ascension” was held, as well as the international conference “Cinema of the Countries” CIS: new waves in the new century.” The large-scale project took place with the support of the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Foundation for the Development of Creativity, etc.
Film screenings, scientific conferences with the participation of students and leading industry professionals, round tables and master classes by masters of modern cinema took place at the venues of the legendary VGIK. The key event of the forum – the Student Film Festival – was attended by 10 film schools from 8 countries: All-Russian State University of Cinematography. S. A. Gerasimova, Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, Belarusian State Academy of Arts, State Institute of Arts and Culture of Uzbekistan, Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinema, Kyrgyz State University of Culture and Arts. B. Beishenalieva, Tajik State Institute of Culture and Arts named after. Mirzo Tursun-Zade, Kazakh National Academy of Arts. Temirbek Zhurgenova, Turan University, Almaty Management University.
43 films were presented in the competition program of the debutants festival. The students’ work was evaluated by a professional jury. Chairman of the jury – Honored Artist of the Republic of Belarus Svetlana Sukhovey, members of the jury: director, producer, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Sergei Azimov; director, producer, etc. O. Head of the Cinema Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan Rufat Hasanov; producer, general director of the Paradise film company Samvel Manasaryan (Armenia); People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, director, professor at VGIK Vladimir Khotinenko.
Belarus was represented by BGAI students: Ruslana Kuryshko and Ivan Mozhar (cameramen), Ksenia Skorobogataya and Sofia Taryanik (film and TV directors), Ksenia Pigas (sound producer), Alisa Stebakova and Ksenia Leshchinskaya (art historians), master’s student Margarita Baygina.
Here are some results and the main favorites of the “Ascension” jury:
“Best director’s work” – the film “From One Hare,” directed by Gleb Kuchinsky (VGIK, Russia).
“Best non-fiction film” – the film “Autona”, directed by Ani Grigoryan (Armenia) and the film “Arisa Hoshimoto”, directed by Sabina Uristemova (Kazakhstan).
“Best feature film” – “Salam, Isa”, director Samed Agayev (Azerbaijan).
Our young compatriots were also awarded the festival.
A special jury prize “For an original author’s solution” was awarded to the film “The Other Side”, directed by Hassan Al-Sayed Hussein, BGAI. “Paukarium”, directed by Vasily Pimenov, BGAI, was awarded in the category “Best Animated Film”.
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In a short interview with On the Screens magazine, the chairman of the jury of the Ascension film forum, Svetlana Ivanovna Sukhovey, said: “For me, participation in this magnificent celebration of cinema and youth was a real return to my student days. After all, I am a graduate of VGIK, my teacher was the famous cinematographer Igor Talankin, who once took his “Belarusian” course… It was nice to see with my own eyes: young people are still passionate about their profession, still looking for new ways of self-realization, they are full of inspiration, special creativity energy… And this means: the cinema will live. And will always be young. Cinema is always an ascent to something new, something good and significant.”
The full version is in “NE” No. 10, 2023.
1. Cinema unites! Jury member Samvel Manasaryan (Armenia), rector of the North Caucasus Institute of Arts Anatoly Rakhaev (Russia), rector of VGIK, president of the Ascension festival Vladimir Malyshev (Russia), idol of film fans Emir Kusturica (Serbia), People’s Artist of Russia Vladimir Khotinenko, Honored Artist Republic of Belarus Svetlana Sukhovey.
