Winners of the contest "Far East — Land of Adventure" awarded at the National Centre RUSSIA

The winners and prize-winners of the third season of the All-Russian contest for the best journey "Far East — Land of Adventure" were honoured at the National Centre RUSSIA. The project brings together travellers who share impressions of their routes across the Russian Far East and helps promote the region as a promising destination for active tourism. The award ceremony was attended by heads of federal ministries and agencies, deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, members of the contest jury, travellers and many others.

The contest is held at the initiative of the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation and Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District, Yuri Trutnev.

"The contest 'Far East — Land of Adventure' reveals the Russian Far East and our vast Russia as a whole. This is important. We can talk endlessly about patriotism and call for love for our country, but this love begins with journeys like these — with mountains, rivers and every flower we see in the morning during a hike. When we plan a journey, prepare for it, pack our equipment and train, we become stronger, and that means Russia becomes stronger too. But none of us can walk every trail. Even a professional jury could not cope with such a task. That is why our contest is a contest of films. These films make it possible to open a page of adventure for millions of people. I am sure that many who see these works will take a backpack or a kayak and set out on their own journeys," said Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation — Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev.

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

Participants were awarded in four main nominations: "Hiking Journey", "Water Journey", "Winter Journey" and "Arctic Journey", as well as the nomination "Along the Paths of Victory" and several special nominations of the contest. In total, more than 850 applications were submitted, which is almost one and a half times more than last year.

"I remember how eagerly we waited in childhood for Yuri Senkevich’s 'Travellers’ Club' and Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s 'The Undersea World'. It is truly remarkable that today hundreds of residents of the Far East compete with these legends every year, creating content that evokes no less powerful emotions and shows perhaps even greater love for our country. These people do not simply make films — they reveal their souls and speak about places they truly feel and love. The growth in the number of nominees from 200 in the first season to more than 800 today is clear evidence that Russia, and especially the Far East, is immensely rich in talent," noted Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexei Chekunkov.

The Grand Prix winner was also announced and received the main prize of three million roubles. Marina Galkina won for the best journey across the Far East. The jury highly praised her film "Alone in the Tundra. 700 Kilometres of the Journey". The award was presented by Deputy Chairwoman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Irina Yarovaya.

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

"The film 'Alone in the Tundra. 700 Kilometres of the Journey' became an apogee, a hymn to the Far East. More than 40 percent of our beautiful country’s territory is the Far East, where there is only one resident per square kilometre. The film shows that these vast and unique spaces of our Motherland belong to all of us, to our people. They embody the immense, devoted and creative labour of many generations <...> Thank you to all the participants, because their works represent the most important and vivid lesson of history, telling the truth about exploration, about overcoming nature, about the creation and strengthening of our great country and about the immense legacy that now belongs to the younger generation," congratulated Irina Yarovaya.

Marina Galkina, the Grand Prix winner, admitted that she does not plan to stop and intends to travel to Yakutia on her next expedition: "It has everything there: mountains, forests, tundra, reindeer herders and rivers rich with fish. And the pristine nature there is simply astonishing — there is plenty of space for adventure."

At the end of the ceremony, guests were able to watch the best films featuring routes across the Russian Far East designed for young audiences. The All-Russian contest is held with the support of the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District, the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, JSC "Far East and Arctic Development Corporation" and the non-profit organisation "Social Initiatives Development Fund".