The magic of Russian cinema at the National Centre RUSSIA

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Every time the lights go down in a cinema and the first images appear on the screen, a small miracle takes place. Forgetting our everyday concerns, we immerse ourselves in other people's lives and compelling stories for a couple of hours, returning home slightly changed. In our country, this miracle has its own date — 27 August, Russian Cinema Day. It is a celebration that brings filmmakers and audiences together through their shared love of cinematic art. The National Centre RUSSIA makes this shared space even broader: films are not only screened here, but also discussed, while every new premiere becomes an opportunity for audiences to meet the people behind the camera.

The official history of Russian Cinema Day began in 1980, when the celebration was established at the state level. Its roots, however, go back to 1919, when a decree nationalising cinema in Soviet Russia was signed on 27 August. From that moment, Russian cinema became a matter of state importance and later one of the most popular and beloved art forms.

Over more than a century, Russian cinema has come a long way: from the first silent films to large-scale blockbusters, and from black-and-white pictures to digital technologies. Today, Russian films and the names of outstanding directors, actors and cinematographers have rightfully become part of world culture.

Russian Cinema Day is marked across the country with premiere screenings, meetings with actors and directors, retrospectives of films by Russian masters, expositions, public lectures about cinema and other events. The National Centre RUSSIA is one of the venues where Russian cinema receives a particularly warm welcome. It regularly hosts premieres, meetings with film crews, film discussions and workshops for audiences of all ages.

During the first days after the National Centre RUSSIA opened, it hosted the "Day of the Future", dedicated to reviving filmmaking for school students. The programme included announcements of new federal projects engaging school students in the creation and production of media and film content. Another important part of the programme was the premiere of the science-fiction feature film "Mum", based on works by Kir Bulychev.

One of last year's most memorable premieres was the family film "My Friend, the Cat and Pushkin", produced by Marmot-Film with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and Channel One. Worldwide Network JSC. The film, which explores family, friendship, creativity and the ability to believe in oneself, combines the classical and the contemporary: its story, for example, features references to the novel "Eugene Onegin" alongside rap battles familiar to today's school students.

The International Festival "Peoples of Russia and the CIS" became a true celebration of cinema, art and folk traditions. Its programme included a film forum at the National Centre RUSSIA, where audiences watched seven films in a single day: the war drama "Not on the List", based on the novella by Boris Vasilyev; the family adventure "Taste of the Sun"; the Russian Geographical Society documentaries "Baikal. Sacred Sea of Ice" and "Russian Wedding in Zaonezhye"; the historical film "The Mystery of Admiral Ushakov"; the series "Chelyuskin. The First"; and the drama "Trail of Wrath".

The National Centre RUSSIA is also the general partner of the IV International Documentary Film Festival "RT.Doc: Time of Our Heroes", which brings together Russian and international directors, cultural figures, heroes of the special military operation, war correspondents and many others.

Guests of the National Centre RUSSIA can not only be among the first to see the best contemporary Russian feature films and documentaries, but also discover how they are made, ask questions of the people behind the camera and feel part of the creative process. The "Legacy. Theatre. The Greats" exposition, marking the 150th anniversary of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia, is currently open at the Centre. Theatre and cinema are twin arts: they share many of the same roots, technologies and even professions. Some of the exhibits — costume sketches, scenery models and theatrical puppets — could just as easily be used on a film set. This connection between screen and stage feels particularly strong on Russian Cinema Day, a celebration intended to remind us that art begins with details: words, sound, light and, of course, the talented, creative and hardworking people who bring it all to life.