"A Dialogue with the Audience Took Place": The 20th International Zerkalo Festival Comes to a Close
The 20th International Festival of Film, Music, and Architecture, Zerkalo. The Philosophy of Tarkovsky, concluded in Ivanovo on June 30. The Grand Prix went to Sean Dunn's British feature, The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford.
Over its twenty-year history, Zerkalo has grown into one of Russia's key showcases for art-house cinema, offering audiences an annual selection of the finest films from across the globe. The 20th edition fully lived up to that reputation, uniting acclaimed masters with up-and-coming directors, and featuring both international premieres and standout domestic productions. True to its identity, Zerkalo remains a festival deeply connected to its audience: across five days, guests engaged in lively discussions, attended director Q&As, explored exhibitions, and participated in special programming.
The festival program comprised over 80 screenings from various countries, drawing a total attendance of more than 13,000 viewers.
Over its twenty-year history, Zerkalo has grown into one of Russia's key showcases for art-house cinema, offering audiences an annual selection of the finest films from across the globe. The 20th edition fully lived up to that reputation, uniting acclaimed masters with up-and-coming directors, and featuring both international premieres and standout domestic productions. True to its identity, Zerkalo remains a festival deeply connected to its audience: across five days, guests engaged in lively discussions, attended director Q&As, explored exhibitions, and participated in special programming.
The festival program comprised over 80 screenings from various countries, drawing a total attendance of more than 13,000 viewers.
The closing ceremony was hosted by Nadezhda Koroleva, Editor-in-Chief of the television program Kino v detalyakh (Cinema in Detail). She noted that this year's film showcase took place across eight cities in the Ivanovo region—Ivanovo, Shuya, Kineshma, Palekh, Rodniki, Vichuga, Puchezh, and Kokhma—with the opening ceremony held in Yuryevets, Tarkovsky's hometown. The program featured competitive and non-competitive screenings; a dedicated exhibition honoring Marina Tarkovskaya at the railway station art space; retrospectives commemorating the 120th anniversary of Alexander Rou and the 250th anniversary of the Bolshoi Theatre; the ROSIZO project The Attraction of Space, inspired by the film Solaris; as well as creative meetings, book presentations, and special events.
The main competition of the anniversary edition featured eight films produced with the involvement of ten countries: Algeria, the United Kingdom, Iran, Spain, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, the United States, Turkey, and France. The lineup included Without Permission by Hassan Nazer, Mergen by Chyngyz Narynov, Dead Souls by Alex Cox, Dead Dogs Don't Bite by Nuri Cihan Ozdoğan, The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford by Sean Dunn, Empty Spaces by Nikita Miklushov, Charon by Akim Salbiev, and Chronicles of the Siege by Abdallah Al-Khatib.
The competition films were evaluated by an international jury comprising Iranian actor, editor, and producer Babak Karimi; Kim Sung-uk, Program Director of the Seoul Cinematheque; Russian actress Sofya Lebedeva; Italian film producer, director, festival organizer, and distributor of Russian films in Italy, Rino Charetta; and Russian director Aleksey German Jr.
The "Svoi" (Our Own) program featured 14 films that had previously been screened and awarded at Russian and international festivals. In addition, the "Svoi. Short Metre" program was presented, comprising 18 notable Russian short films.
The competition films were evaluated by an international jury comprising Iranian actor, editor, and producer Babak Karimi; Kim Sung-uk, Program Director of the Seoul Cinematheque; Russian actress Sofya Lebedeva; Italian film producer, director, festival organizer, and distributor of Russian films in Italy, Rino Charetta; and Russian director Aleksey German Jr.
The "Svoi" (Our Own) program featured 14 films that had previously been screened and awarded at Russian and international festivals. In addition, the "Svoi. Short Metre" program was presented, comprising 18 notable Russian short films.
The closing ceremony commenced with the presentation of the audience awards.
The first winner to be announced was that of the "Svoi. Short Metre" program, as determined by festival-goers through audience voting. The award went to the film Acquired Deafness by Nafisa Gavryuchina.
The first winner to be announced was that of the "Svoi. Short Metre" program, as determined by festival-goers through audience voting. The award went to the film Acquired Deafness by Nafisa Gavryuchina.
In her remarks, the director shared: "Above all, I would like to speak about the films at the Zerkalo festival. They are all very different, yet they share one thing in common: after watching them, you leave the auditorium a slightly different person. In my view, that is the very essence of why cinema is made. As for my own film, the most significant aspect for me was the opportunity to work with adolescents with varying degrees of hearing impairment. This experience proved to be incredibly valuable. They bring such sincerity and depth to the material—qualities that are difficult to achieve through other means. I would therefore encourage my colleagues not to shy away from experimenting with non-professional actors and to remain open to such experiences more often."
In accordance with festival tradition, the Zerkalo festival also presented the Ivanovo Film Club "Screen and You" Award. This prize is conferred by the guardians of auteur cinema traditions—organizers and long-standing participants of Ivanovo's contemporary film clubs, as well as loyal festival audiences over the years.
This year, the recipient of the Ivanovo Film Club "Screen and You" Award was the film Vygotsky by Anton Bilzho.
In the full-length "Svoi" program, audience preference went to the film Adult Son by Ivan Shkundov.
The director commented: "Thank you to the Zerkalo festival, and a special thank you to the audiences of the Ivanovo region. For me, cinema is always a dialogue. And I am grateful to you for making that dialogue happen."
This year, the recipient of the Ivanovo Film Club "Screen and You" Award was the film Vygotsky by Anton Bilzho.
In the full-length "Svoi" program, audience preference went to the film Adult Son by Ivan Shkundov.
The director commented: "Thank you to the Zerkalo festival, and a special thank you to the audiences of the Ivanovo region. For me, cinema is always a dialogue. And I am grateful to you for making that dialogue happen."
In the anniversary year, the audience vote for the main international competition yielded an unusual outcome: two films garnered an equal number of votes. The joint recipients were Without Permission by Hassan Nazer (Iran–UK) and Dead Souls by Alex Cox (USA–Spain).
Accepting the award, Hassan Nazer admitted that the win came as a surprise to him:
"Receiving an audience award is always an honor, because it signifies that you have succeeded in establishing a connection with the viewers, with the audience. Thank you for your choice," said the director.
The award for Dead Souls was accepted on behalf of director Alex Cox by the film's producer, Merritt Crocker:
"This is a very meaningful victory for Alex Cox. Our thanks go to the Zerkalo festival and to everyone who helped bring the film to its audience."
"Receiving an audience award is always an honor, because it signifies that you have succeeded in establishing a connection with the viewers, with the audience. Thank you for your choice," said the director.
The award for Dead Souls was accepted on behalf of director Alex Cox by the film's producer, Merritt Crocker:
"This is a very meaningful victory for Alex Cox. Our thanks go to the Zerkalo festival and to everyone who helped bring the film to its audience."
Following the presentation of the audience awards, the laureates of the international competition were announced. The Special Jury Prize, with the citation "As a dedication to ordinary people around the world in times of global conflict," was awarded to Chronicles of the Siege, directed by Abdallah Al-Khatib (Algeria–France–Qatar).
The Best Director award was presented to Nuri Cihan Ozdoğan for Dead Dogs Don't Bite (Turkey).
Upon receiving the award, Nuri Cihan Ozdoğan expressed his gratitude: "This is my first feature film, and I am truly honored to receive this award. My thanks go to my entire crew. I would also like to extend a special thank you to the Zerkalo festival and to Ivanovo for such warm hospitality!"
The Best Director award was presented to Nuri Cihan Ozdoğan for Dead Dogs Don't Bite (Turkey).
Upon receiving the award, Nuri Cihan Ozdoğan expressed his gratitude: "This is my first feature film, and I am truly honored to receive this award. My thanks go to my entire crew. I would also like to extend a special thank you to the Zerkalo festival and to Ivanovo for such warm hospitality!"
The Grand Prix of the international competition was awarded by the jury to the British film The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford, directed by Sean Dunn. The feature tells the story of an elderly tour guide from rural Scotland, whose orderly world begins to crumble when his hometown becomes the filming location for a popular fantasy series that overshadows local history and traditions.
Following the presentation of all awards, the ceremony host, Nadezhda Koroleva, declared the 20th International Festival of Film, Music, and Architecture Zerkalo. The Philosophy of Tarkovsky officially closed.
As part of the festival, the winners of the V All-Russian Video Art Competition "Worlds of Tarkovsky" were also honored. The competition was organized by the ROSIZO State Museum and Exhibition Center in partnership with the Zerkalo. The Philosophy of Tarkovsky festival and the "Koroche" International Short Film and Debut Film Festival. The winners were determined by a professional jury comprising Ivan Lykoshin, Director of the Department of Museums and Circus Arts Support at the Russian Ministry of Culture; Georgy Moskvichev, Director General of ROSIZO; Olga Galaktionova, Director General of the Tretyakov Gallery; Anton Malyshev, Head of the Distribution and Marketing Department at the Producers' Faculty of VGIK (Russian State Institute of Cinematography); Dmitry Davidenko, Head of the Educational and Creative Workshop at the Film Studies Department of VGIK; Dmitry Kotov, Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics; and Anton Kalinkin, Director General of Red Carpet Studio.
The winners of the competition were as follows: in the "Philosophy" category — Viktor Shiroglazov (Anamnesis); in the "Childhood" category — Ksenia Chernomor (Book of Monologues); in the "Nostalgia" category — Elena Laur (Mighty Lion); in the "Cosmos" category — Oleg Ostimuk (Afanasy Fet — "Not by Might, Lord, Are You Mighty, But Incomprehensible"); in the "Landscape" category — Elena Kuzovleva (Tram Bridge); in the "Dream" category — Natalia Tarkovskaya (And I Dreamed This...); and in the "Love" category — Alexey Grechushkin and Polina Turi (Archetypes — "I Do Not See").
The winners of the competition were as follows: in the "Philosophy" category — Viktor Shiroglazov (Anamnesis); in the "Childhood" category — Ksenia Chernomor (Book of Monologues); in the "Nostalgia" category — Elena Laur (Mighty Lion); in the "Cosmos" category — Oleg Ostimuk (Afanasy Fet — "Not by Might, Lord, Are You Mighty, But Incomprehensible"); in the "Landscape" category — Elena Kuzovleva (Tram Bridge); in the "Dream" category — Natalia Tarkovskaya (And I Dreamed This...); and in the "Love" category — Alexey Grechushkin and Polina Turi (Archetypes — "I Do Not See").
The International Film, Music and Architecture Festival Zerkalo. Tarkovsky's Philosophy is hosted with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Government of Ivanovo region.