Special screening of the film "Northern Sea Route" was held at the National Centre RUSSIA

On November 10, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted a screening of the documentary series "Northern Sea Route" directed by Svetlana Muzychenko, created with the support of the Internet Development Institute. The film project narrates the development of Russia's unique Arctic artery — the shortest sea route between the European part of the country and the Far East.

The audience were immersed in the centuries-old history of the harsh icy expanse and witnessed the birth of the latest generation of majestic icebreakers — from construction on the slipway to setting out on voyages. However, the "Northern Sea Route" is not only a story about transport infrastructure but also about the life journeys of the main characters of the series — true people of the Arctic, past and present, united by a love for their work and for their Motherland.

"We don’t have a lot of documentary films about the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route, but the things that haven’t been studied are especially fascinating. So, this is a film for the entire country. Young audiences will find it interesting to learn about working on a nuclear icebreaker — it might even attract some, as there's a certain romance to it. For older viewers, it will be interesting to see what we're doing in the Arctic. We're carrying out a very important function there: our icebreakers carry out a vast amount of cargo transportation every day. Economically, this is a very profitable region for us, and I believe the whole country should know about it," stated Daria Bykova, the film’s executive producer.

The vibrant and captivating journey was filmed with the zeal of pioneers. The film crew essentially became a full part of the "Sibir" (Russian name for "Siberia") icebreaker team and truthfully documented all the details of its activities. But the main thing is that the tough "people of the North" trusted the camera to capture their thoughts and feelings — about life, work, and the fate of the cold land that has become dear to them.

"The idea was to tell a story about the dream that has always accompanied humanity — to conquer the Arctic, to understand it. And while working on the series, we realized: it only seems that today, in the XXI century, we know everything about the Arctic. In reality, we know nothing — about the unique atmosphere on the icebreaker, the amazing people working there. This film helps each of us understand ourselves, to see what we are capable of. As one of our heroes said, 'This is something to be proud of.' And to be proud, you have to know — that’s the main idea of the series," emphasized Marie Renaud, the project's screenwriter and creator.

The vivid combination of genuine personal stories, harsh challenges, and incredible natural beauty was highly appreciated by film industry professionals. This unique movie, not yet widely released, became one of the winners of the second Original + Doc documentary content festival for streaming platforms held in August 2024.

"We had filmed in the North before, but never gone this deep. The ice left the biggest impression — such an incredibly beautiful, white silence. It feels as if you’re on another planet, untouched by human footsteps. And, of course, the people were impressive too: there’s a stark contrast between the cold and wind outside, and the warm, welcoming atmosphere inside," shared cinematographer Yuri Yermolin about the filming process.

The five episodes of the "Northern Sea Route" project will soon be available on the media platform "Smotrim."

The National Centre RUSSIA was established by order of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to preserve the legacy of the International RUSSIA EXPO and to showcase the achievements of the country and its citizens on a permanent basis. Federal government bodies, state companies, corporations, and regions take part in the Centre’s work.

The first event at the National Centre RUSSIA was the International Symposium "Inventing the Future," which welcomed more than 6,000 guests from 101 countries. The Centre is open from 10:00 to 20:00 every day except Monday.