"Butterfly" Effects: Chinese film gets a Million dollar Diamond

A dozen diamond-studded butterflies, eleven Yakut stones of five carats and one ten-carat worth about $ 1 million. This is how the laureates of the new Eurasian Film Award, invented by Nikita Mikhalkov as an alternative to the Oscar, were awarded. Two stones remained in Russia: Alexander Adabashyan and Svetlana Kryuchkova received awards for the best male and female roles. Both played in the film "Two in one life, not counting the dog." The main prize went to the Chinese film "Against the Current." The details are in the Izvestia report.

Who participated in the Diamond Butterfly

Two hours before the ceremony, guests — stars of Russian and international cinema - walked up the red carpet to the Nikita Mikhalkov Workshop 12 Theater. The geography of the first "Butterfly" covers 17 countries — from Russia, China and Iran to Cuba, Pakistan and South Africa. 34 paintings, from Iranian parables to Turkestan dramas, applied for awards.

While some quietly discussed films that the audience in Russia had hardly seen yet, others studied the prizes. After all, in addition to the "Diamond Butterfly" statuette, created by the theater's chief artist Yuri Cooper and encrusted with 5,000 Yakut diamonds, the laureates received real stones: winners in 11 nominations — five carats each, the winner of the "Best Film" prize — ten carats, worth more than $ 1 million.

A few hours earlier, at a press conference, Mikhalkov explained that the creators of the award from the very beginning wanted to give the winners a tangible financial prize: filmmakers need funds for new projects. Oscar, which is already being compared to The Butterfly, does not offer such bonuses.

— The Oscar does not give any material joys to the winner, only status. Therefore, it is difficult to compete with him. It was decided to support our award with serious financial assistance," Mikhalkov said.

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For the safety of the laureates, the Rosgvardiya accompanied them around Moscow. She must bring the winners to the border.

Mikhalkov emphasizes that not only the artistic level and craft are important, but also respect for one's own culture, religion, history, and human values. No more than three paintings are accepted from one country in order to "keep the balance." There is also a special nomination for countries outside Eurasia, in order, according to Mikhalkov, "not to lock ourselves in our borders."

The expert council turned out to be impressive: Sergey Bezrukov, Alexey Guskov, Sergey Ursulyak, Vladimir Khotinenko, Alexey Rybnikov and others. There is no international jury — the decisions are made by national committees. The organizers emphasize that the award does not seek to please the world, but seeks to hear those who have not been heard for a long time.

How was the Diamond Butterfly award ceremony held?

After a half-hour delay, the Symphony Orchestra of the Academy of Russian Music performed an excerpt from "Ruslan and Lyudmila" by Mikhail Glinka. There was a film clip of the nominees on the screen.

The ceremony was opened by Anna Snatkina, who presented the award to the best supporting actor, Anvar Kartaev ("In the Weather for Spring", Uzbekistan). He thanked the academy, Mikhalkov and his teachers — theater and cinematography. The best supporting actress was the Pakistani Canadian Sonia Hussain ("Termite"). Sergey Bezrukov came off the stage to present the award personally. Hussein dedicated the award to "all the girls and women who still cannot get an education," as well as "those who live in Gaza and Palestine." The Belarusian Yuri Poteenko ("Black Castle") became the best composer.

— The whole world understands the language of music. Cinema is impossible without her. Russia is rich in masterpieces: Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Artemyev, Rybnikov," Yuri Bashmet listed from the stage, presenting the award.

Kyrgyzstani Talent Akynbekov ("Black, Red, Yellow") was recognized as the best cameraman. Director Klim Shipenko, who announced the winner, said that now all cinematographers will dream of the award.

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The winner in the Best Actor nomination was Alexander Adabashyan ("Two in life, not counting the dog").

— At least, I am the first one who suspended the export of diamonds from our country! — the actor joked, provoked a flurry of approving applause. — Acting is being an apprentice with good masters. You can't teach, you can only learn.

Adabashian's partner in the film, actress Svetlana Kryuchkova, won the Butterfly for Best Actress. She thanked director Andrey Zaitsev for not being afraid to invite her to the film.

"Some people are afraid of me, but they shouldn't be. You know, I've been doing poetry for 53 years. And one of our greatest poets, Marina Tsvetaeva, considered the butterfly to be a symbol of the soul. Because in Greek mythology, she was a symbol of Psyche. I have a lot of butterflies at home too. And now there will be another one," Kryuchkova said from the stage.

Carol Shore received the award for the best screenplay from the hands of assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medinsky for the film "The Old Righteous Blues", and Meilis Khudaiberenov was named the best artist for the film "The Composer" from Turkmenistan.

Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova presented the award to the best director. Goran Radovanovic became one of them for his work on the Serbian-Bulgarian film "The Forest King". And the famous Iranian director Majid Majidi received a special prize for his contribution to world cinema. Nikita Mikhalkov personally presented the award to the cinematographer and said that he is a master of making films both for "three kopecks" and for a lot of money. The Iranian laureate himself acknowledged the influence of Russian directors and recalled the pain of the Middle East.

"I believe that the day will come when the children of Palestine will live in peace and tranquility,— Majidi said from the stage.

The main prize was taken by the Chinese painting "Against the Current". The award was given to Jiang Wai, a studio producer from Shanghai. She admitted that she thought the whole ceremony how well the diamond butterfly would look with her blue suit.

In the final, all the winners were invited to a shared photo and escorted into the hall to applause. The ceremony was not without pauses, awkward moments and slight confusion. Next year, the "Butterflies" will be awarded in another country, and a new national jury will be responsible for the selection. Nikita Mikhalkov is convinced that the award has a great future. He is not going to remove the Oscar. The broader task is to unite the cultures and peoples of the world under the wing of the diamond butterfly.