Heroes on screen: veterans of the special military operation spoke about the image of the hero in contemporary cinema

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Participants of the presidential programme "Time of Heroes" spoke about the formation of the image of the hero in today’s film industry at the forum "Heroes of a Great Country". The event was held at the National Centre RUSSIA and focused on projects that contribute to the upbringing and development of young people, promote traditional values and respond to current global challenges.

"Today, cinema is not just an entertainment industry. It is a space of meaning where the image of the hero, the country and the future is formed. It is through the screen that millions of people, especially young people, receive answers to the question: 'Who is a real hero?' That is why the more patriotic films are made and the more festivals there are telling the stories of the heroes of our time and our country, the stronger our unity will be and the closer our shared Victory will come," noted the Plenipotentiary Envoy of the President of the Russian Federation to the Ural Federal District, Artyom Zhoga.

He added that Russia is a country of heroes and that every citizen has their own front line: "For those carrying out combat missions, for residents of Donbas showing resilience and courage, for doctors, volunteers, journalists, teachers and builders. Artists also have their own front line, including documentary and feature film professionals — it is they who create vivid and relatable images of the heroes of our time."

A veteran of the special military operation awarded the Medal for Courage and the Medal for Combat Merit, and a participant in the "Time of Heroes" programme, Konstantin Yashin, believes that today cinema needs relevant heroes who feel real to everyone — children, young people and adults alike.

"A hero must have a story, and the viewer should empathise with them, feel the problem that pushed them to act, and worry about their future. Then a child growing up today and watching such films will reflect on their past, present and future," Konstantin Yashin said.

The message conveyed through films shapes the person who watches them. According to veteran of the special military operation, Senior Lieutenant and recipient of the Order of Courage, Vladislav Frolov, heroes constantly change and each era has its own. In his view, film heroes should not be fictional, but characters based on real-life prototypes who have performed courageous acts for the sake of loved ones and the Motherland.

"Today there is no shortage of heroes. They can be ordinary people who devote themselves to their profession and field of work, delivering the very best they can. Heroism is when a person sacrifices themselves for society, for a worthy cause and for others," Vladislav Frolov said.

Major of the medical service and recipient of the Medal for Saving the Perishing, Anastasia Kosova, also a participant in the "Time of Heroes" programme, said that there are real-life hero prototypes today that can be reflected in films.

"There are many real heroes on the battlefield today — including, of course, doctors who continue to serve in combat zones and hospitals. It is extremely hard work, with enormous strain on everyone involved. That is why it would be wonderful to make a film about doctors, whose work is often taken for granted, even though many people have no idea what an extraordinary feat nurses and doctors perform every single day," Anastasia Kosova noted.

From 11 to 12 February, as part of the "Heroes of a Great Country" forum at the National Centre RUSSIA, representatives of the film industry, public authorities, business and youth organisations discussed the role of cinema in the life of the modern individual — how films influence the formation of values, meaning and perception. One of the main goals of the Award is to revive the culture and professional competence of creating moral and spiritual content across the entire film industry, and to support creators in consciously working with values.

The awards ceremony for the best projects of the 3rd National Film Award "Heroes of a Great Country" was also held across 20 categories. Laureates received the "Golden Stars" and the "Golden Gauntlet", and the recipient of the main prize — the "Grand Golden Star" for Best Film Project — was announced.