The XVII International Film Festival “Salt of the Earth” in Samara concluded, bringing together representatives from the film industry across Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, and other countries. The TV BRICS International Media Network served as the international media partner for the event.

The award ceremony for the winners was held on 19 September at the Centre of Russian Cinematography, “Khudozhestvenny”. The laureates were awarded prizes and diplomas for the best films in each of the five categories, along with an award for the best cinematography and the Grand Prix of the festival.

During the event, a literary competition for schoolchildren and students titled “My Homeland is Russia” took place. Participants wrote essays on themes related to the films presented at the festival and received memorable prizes. Additionally, the best works of aspiring artists who participated in the “Draw the Cinema” competition were awarded. From 16 to 20 September, viewers had the opportunity to explore the works of filmmakers from BRICS+ countries. Among the films showcased at the festival were “The Trombonists” (Argentina), “Between Worlds – The Life and Work of Elena Antipova” (Brazil), “The Story of Hope” (UAE), “In Return, Just a Book” (India), and ” Noqte” (Iran).

Furthermore, on 17 September, attendees of the festival had the chance to watch the documentary “Dostoevsky Intercontinental” (2021), produced by the joint editorial team of TV BRICS. The film is dedicated to the work of the Russian writer and philosopher Fyodor Dostoevsky, highlighting the relevance of his figure in modern times. It explores the national interpretations of his philosophy in India, Brazil, South Africa, China, and Russia. The director of the film, Ivan Zakharenko, noted that the goal was to show Russia’s significant role in global cultural heritage through the example of Dostoevsky’s creative and philosophical legacy.

“Dostoevsky Intercontinental is the result of cooperation with TV BRICS partners from South Africa, China, Brazil, India, and Russia. It is important for us that viewers from various corners of the world become familiar with the work of this great Russian writer through the lens of not only Russian but also global culture, particularly in BRICS countries,” said Zakharenko.

The director also conducted a masterclass where he discussed the network’s experience in creating the project.

“It was a great pleasure for me to conduct a masterclass dedicated to documentary production. We discussed how to create an international project and present it to a broad audience in BRICS countries. Dostoevsky Intercontinental is the first documentary film shot in five BRICS countries, a hallmark of the joint editorial team of TV BRICS in the field of international production. I hope our work will serve as a good example for future projects of this kind,” he added. The International Film Festival “Salt of the Earth” has been held since 2008. It aims to preserve the spiritual and historical heritage of Russia and strengthen international cultural dialogue. The event is organised by the Samara Regional Public Fund “Volga Historical and Cultural Foundation”.

Photo: Press service of the “Salt of the Earth” IFF