"An invitation to dialogue": actors of the "Thy Ways" project share their impressions of filming

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The pre-premiere screening of the documentary project "Thy Ways" took place at the National Centre RUSSIA. The film tells the story of a spiritual quest and the search for answers to eternal questions. According to the plot, the three main protagonists — Archpriest Viktor Ivanov, Imam Hamza Hafizov, and actor Ilya Glinnikov — embark on a journey from Ufa to Donetsk to support servicemen and deliver humanitarian aid. During their trip, they become explorers of the human soul.

Throughout the history of the country, representatives of different religions and ethnic groups have joined forces to defend Russia's traditional values and continue to do so today, Imam Hamza Hafizov emphasized. 

"When external enemies attacked Russia, we stood together as one to fight against evil and defend our Motherland — representatives of different religions and ethnic groups. Today, history is repeating itself," said Hamza Hafizov.

The film project explores the theme of patriotism through the lens of personal stories and interfaith interactions. The film became a kind of invitation to dialogue, noted actor Ilya Glinnikov.

"This project carries a profound meaning. The film is an invitation to dialogue in the search for peace, harmony, and oneself. We managed to raise complex topics and discuss them in a simple, human way. If we have made even one person kinder, then the project has succeeded," shared Ilya Glinnikov. 

One of the film’s goals is to support traditional values and religion, said Archpriest Viktor Ivanov.

"Many people today have fallen below their human dignity. To reflect on religion, one must have a foundation of values. The film is not a template or a directive for someone to become religious. We have planted the seeds, and how they grow will depend on the viewers themselves. We cannot force a person to believe in God or follow a certain path. We can show our own path, our journey, our mistakes, and how we corrected them," emphasized Viktor Ivanov.

When visiting military units, the participants of the documentary film did not raise questions of faith or nationality. Representatives of different religious denominations held discussions and even organized concerts, singing songs with a guitar. After such meetings, frontline soldiers and spiritual mentors became one, realizing how close their worldviews were and how significant universal human values become in difficult times.

The film was created in partnership with the "Defenders of the Fatherland" foundation, the Internet Development Institute, and the Interreligious Council of Russia.