Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova and Chairman of the Union of Cinematographers of Russia Nikita Mikhalkov announced the creation of the Eurasian Academy of Cinematographic Arts, which will bring together cinema industry representatives from across the world and become a new space for creative work, support and dialogue. The presentation of the new film academy took place on April 22 in Moscow. The presentation featured the introduction of the Eurasian Open Film Award Diamond Butterfly, which the Academy will award. The first award ceremony will take place on December 5, 2025 in Moscow, the call for applications is now open. The grand prize winner will receive a cash award equivalent to 1 million dollars.
The Eurasian Open Film Award Diamond Butterfly will become a global-scale cultural event and a symbol of creative unity not only of the Eurasian space, but also of all countries sharing traditional values. The creation of the Academy and the Award, established by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Russian Cultural Foundation, has become an especially timely step at the moment when the world needs to unite like never before based on common spiritual standards.
The presentation took place in the renovated legendary stage of Nikita Mikhalkov's Workshop 12. The inaugural opening of the presentation featured a performance by the outstanding pianist, an honored artist of Russia Boris Berezovsky and Alexander Scriabin Festival Orchestra performing a musical compilation by Sergei Prokofiev. With this profound music background, images of national traditions of the member nations of the Eurasian Film Academy went live in the screens creating a visual and music symphony of unity and diversity.
The renowned Russian actor Sergey Bezrukov was the host of the presentation. The guests watched the video statement by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
"The idea of creating the Eurasian Academy of Cinematographic Arts has aroused great interest in the professional community. Many masters of Russian and world cinema have confirmed their intent to become members, and I am certain that their number will only grow. The principles that the Film Academy will be guided by are shared by the vast majority of Eurasian countries. It is intended to become an open platform for creative interaction based on respect for national interests, traditional values and different cultural identities. I would like to emphasize that the Eurasian Film Academy is not only about mutual support for the development of national film industries and film markets. Plans are in place for an extensive educational program including workshops, student exchanges and joint projects. These activities will encourage young filmmakers to get to know each other and understand each other better, laying a very important foundation for the future and contributing to greater mutual trust and good relations between people", noted the head of state in his online greeting.
Sergey Bezrukov noted that the event brought together Armenia, Belarus, Vietnam, Venezuela, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Cuba, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Seychelles, Senegal, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and Russia. He underlined that the prize would be available for nominees both from the member nations of the Eurasian Film Academy and any other states.
"The key principles and the main pillars of the Eurasian Academy of Cinematographic Arts and the Eurasian Open Film Prize "Diamond Butterfly" are the commitment to truth, respect for cultural diversity and the desire to preserve the genuine and deep values of each nation within Eurasian region", noted Bezrukov.
The nominations of the Eurasian Open Film Prize "Diamond Butterfly" are: "The Best Film", "The Best Director", "The Best Script", "The Best Cinematographer, "The Best Actor", "The Best Actress", "The Best Supporting Actor", "The Best Supporting Actress", "The Best Artist", "The Best Film of a Country, which is not Part of the Eurasian Space", "The Award for Contribution to World Cinema".
The Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova walked up to the stage to greet the guests of the presentation.
"Together with the colleagues from the Union of Cinematographers of Russia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have made a tremendous effort, and today we are delighted to welcome guests from more than 20 countries at our event. We are proud to say that thanks to their all-round support, we have created a platform for filmmakers from different countries to exchange experience in creating and promoting high-quality film content. Today, we are presenting a major project that has been the foundation for the establishment of the Eurasian Film Academy, and we are launchingthe preparation for the first film awards ceremony. Tomorrow, Nikita Mikhalkov, a prominent figure in the Russian film industry, will meet with international delegates to discuss every detail, from the multilateral declaration to the formation ofnational commissions for selecting films for participation in the awards. Cinema remains an essential part of the arts.. And in this regard, we are confident that the Eurasian Film Academy and the Film Prize will provide a successful platformfor mutual support, cooperation, and recognition of filmmakers who uphold traditional values, respect cultural heritage,and contribute to its preservation. I am certain that our initiative will take a significant place in the global cultural landscape.", said OIga Lyubimova.
The prima ballerina of Mariinsky Theater Renata Shakirova did an outstanding performance to the music of Eduard Artemyev from the film Close to Eden. Her performance symbolized the encounter of the two great arts: ballet and cinema. Ballet, like a flying butterfly, goes beyond borders and language barriers connecting cultures in a unified, speechless dialogue everyone understands. In the background of her dancing, the screens were showing values and unique features of each country invited to participate in the work of the Film Academy.
The initiator, inspirational sponsor and one of the founders of the Film Academy, director Nikita Mikhalkov quoted the words of the French director Jean Renoir, the son of the renowned artist Auguste Renoir: "All I can give this cruel, unjust world is love".
"One ancient scholar said a wonderful phrase, which became the slogan of our new prize: "A cruel truth without love is a lie". We see in what cruel world we live, how many lies, untruth is out there that is forcing artists involve in politics, that is why we had an idea to create the Eurasian Film Academy because we all need to unite. The first country answering our requestl was the People's Republic of China, for which I am very grateful", underlined Nikita Mikhalkov.
He also presented the main award, the diamond-encrusted butterfly designed by the famous artist Yuri Kuper, whose works are represented in the Tretyakov Gallery, Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, top museums in Paris, New York, Geneva and in other cities. Besides the unique award, all winners of the Eurasian Film Academy Prize will receive a cash reward: the winner in "The Best Film" nomination will receive a reward equivalent to 1 million dollars, other winners will receive 250 thousand dollars.
"The Eurasian Film Awards ceremony will be held in each country that joins the Film Academy. This will be a democratic process, with the first prize being awarded in Moscow on December 5. As of today, we are open to receive applications for submissions.", underlined Nikita Mikhalkov.
The presentation ended with a performance by the conductor Philipp Chizhevsky with an orchestra and a chorus. To the performance of the Hallelujah from Georg Friedrich Handel's oratorio Messiah, one of the greatest and recognizable Easter works, the audience watched the great classics of Russian cinema: Russian and Soviet films embodying the key meanings and ideals enshrined in the charter of the Eurasian Film Academy.
The Eurasian Open Film Award Diamond Butterfly will become a global-scale cultural event and a symbol of creative unity not only of the Eurasian space, but also of all countries sharing traditional values. The creation of the Academy and the Award, established by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Russian Cultural Foundation, has become an especially timely step at the moment when the world needs to unite like never before based on common spiritual standards.
The presentation took place in the renovated legendary stage of Nikita Mikhalkov's Workshop 12. The inaugural opening of the presentation featured a performance by the outstanding pianist, an honored artist of Russia Boris Berezovsky and Alexander Scriabin Festival Orchestra performing a musical compilation by Sergei Prokofiev. With this profound music background, images of national traditions of the member nations of the Eurasian Film Academy went live in the screens creating a visual and music symphony of unity and diversity.
The renowned Russian actor Sergey Bezrukov was the host of the presentation. The guests watched the video statement by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
"The idea of creating the Eurasian Academy of Cinematographic Arts has aroused great interest in the professional community. Many masters of Russian and world cinema have confirmed their intent to become members, and I am certain that their number will only grow. The principles that the Film Academy will be guided by are shared by the vast majority of Eurasian countries. It is intended to become an open platform for creative interaction based on respect for national interests, traditional values and different cultural identities. I would like to emphasize that the Eurasian Film Academy is not only about mutual support for the development of national film industries and film markets. Plans are in place for an extensive educational program including workshops, student exchanges and joint projects. These activities will encourage young filmmakers to get to know each other and understand each other better, laying a very important foundation for the future and contributing to greater mutual trust and good relations between people", noted the head of state in his online greeting.
Sergey Bezrukov noted that the event brought together Armenia, Belarus, Vietnam, Venezuela, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Cuba, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Seychelles, Senegal, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and Russia. He underlined that the prize would be available for nominees both from the member nations of the Eurasian Film Academy and any other states.
"The key principles and the main pillars of the Eurasian Academy of Cinematographic Arts and the Eurasian Open Film Prize "Diamond Butterfly" are the commitment to truth, respect for cultural diversity and the desire to preserve the genuine and deep values of each nation within Eurasian region", noted Bezrukov.
The nominations of the Eurasian Open Film Prize "Diamond Butterfly" are: "The Best Film", "The Best Director", "The Best Script", "The Best Cinematographer, "The Best Actor", "The Best Actress", "The Best Supporting Actor", "The Best Supporting Actress", "The Best Artist", "The Best Film of a Country, which is not Part of the Eurasian Space", "The Award for Contribution to World Cinema".
The Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova walked up to the stage to greet the guests of the presentation.
"Together with the colleagues from the Union of Cinematographers of Russia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have made a tremendous effort, and today we are delighted to welcome guests from more than 20 countries at our event. We are proud to say that thanks to their all-round support, we have created a platform for filmmakers from different countries to exchange experience in creating and promoting high-quality film content. Today, we are presenting a major project that has been the foundation for the establishment of the Eurasian Film Academy, and we are launchingthe preparation for the first film awards ceremony. Tomorrow, Nikita Mikhalkov, a prominent figure in the Russian film industry, will meet with international delegates to discuss every detail, from the multilateral declaration to the formation ofnational commissions for selecting films for participation in the awards. Cinema remains an essential part of the arts.. And in this regard, we are confident that the Eurasian Film Academy and the Film Prize will provide a successful platformfor mutual support, cooperation, and recognition of filmmakers who uphold traditional values, respect cultural heritage,and contribute to its preservation. I am certain that our initiative will take a significant place in the global cultural landscape.", said OIga Lyubimova.
The prima ballerina of Mariinsky Theater Renata Shakirova did an outstanding performance to the music of Eduard Artemyev from the film Close to Eden. Her performance symbolized the encounter of the two great arts: ballet and cinema. Ballet, like a flying butterfly, goes beyond borders and language barriers connecting cultures in a unified, speechless dialogue everyone understands. In the background of her dancing, the screens were showing values and unique features of each country invited to participate in the work of the Film Academy.
The initiator, inspirational sponsor and one of the founders of the Film Academy, director Nikita Mikhalkov quoted the words of the French director Jean Renoir, the son of the renowned artist Auguste Renoir: "All I can give this cruel, unjust world is love".
"One ancient scholar said a wonderful phrase, which became the slogan of our new prize: "A cruel truth without love is a lie". We see in what cruel world we live, how many lies, untruth is out there that is forcing artists involve in politics, that is why we had an idea to create the Eurasian Film Academy because we all need to unite. The first country answering our requestl was the People's Republic of China, for which I am very grateful", underlined Nikita Mikhalkov.
He also presented the main award, the diamond-encrusted butterfly designed by the famous artist Yuri Kuper, whose works are represented in the Tretyakov Gallery, Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, top museums in Paris, New York, Geneva and in other cities. Besides the unique award, all winners of the Eurasian Film Academy Prize will receive a cash reward: the winner in "The Best Film" nomination will receive a reward equivalent to 1 million dollars, other winners will receive 250 thousand dollars.
"The Eurasian Film Awards ceremony will be held in each country that joins the Film Academy. This will be a democratic process, with the first prize being awarded in Moscow on December 5. As of today, we are open to receive applications for submissions.", underlined Nikita Mikhalkov.
The presentation ended with a performance by the conductor Philipp Chizhevsky with an orchestra and a chorus. To the performance of the Hallelujah from Georg Friedrich Handel's oratorio Messiah, one of the greatest and recognizable Easter works, the audience watched the great classics of Russian cinema: Russian and Soviet films embodying the key meanings and ideals enshrined in the charter of the Eurasian Film Academy.
