The 36th Message to Man International Film Festival has come to a close in St. Petersburg. A total of 75 films from 35 countries took part in the International, National and In Silico Experimental Competitions. The Gala Award Ceremony took place at the Alexandrinsky Theatre’s New Stage, where the Festival juries and partners presented 14 official awards and 6 special awards.
In November and December, the Echoes of Message to Man will bring the Festival’s films to Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk, Minsk and Pskov.
The Festival in Numbers
This year, Festival screenings and events drew 16,000 visitors. Submissions arrived from 97 countries, and 75 films from 35 countries were selected for the competition programme. More than 1,800 guests, viewers and members of the press were accredited. Industry events played a special role in the programme.
Aleksey Uchitel, President of the 36th Message to Man International Film Festival, summed up the results:
“I am a happy man, because everything we envisioned for the Festival came true — it went very well. Our main criterion is crowds of people at every screening; everyone was talking about the films, and no one left a screening indifferent. This year the Festival had an even warmer atmosphere. I kept seeing open faces among the audience and the jury members — everyone was smiling. We wanted the audience to see how people in other countries feel, experience emotions and love. I am confident that once again we have succeeded.”
Award Ceremony
The closing ceremony was attended by Roman Karmanov, Director General of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives, members of the Festival juries and invited guests.
Special Awards
The first award of the evening — the Award from the Message to Man Honorary President, filmmaker Mikhail Litvyakov — was presented by Festival President Aleksey Uchitel. It went to The Adventures of Mosaics on Ground and Under, directed by Aleksey Fedorchenko (Russia, 2026).
The Organising Committee’s Silver Centaur Special Award was also presented by Aleksey Uchitel. It went to Today Herman Is 122 over 85, directed by Peter Shepotinnik (Russia, 2026).
The Leningrad Labour Union Federation Special Award for Best Documentary Film about Working People was presented by Vladimir Zhuk, Head of the Federation’s Information Department. The award went to Chuuraa, directed by Evgenia Arbugaeva (United Kingdom, 2026).
Screenwriter Susanna Baranzhieva presented the Alexander Rastorguev Awards, named after the documentary filmmaker. They went to Before the Sun, directed by Alisa Tamarova (Russia, 2026), and Mother, directed by Elizaveta Bobyleva (Russia, 2025). Last year, Mother took part in the Festival’s industry programme.
The Award from Ilim Group, General Partner of the Festival, was presented by Oksana Popova, the company’s Head of External Communications. It went to A Point for Quitting, directed by Olga Averkieva (Russia, 2026), “For the tenderness of a lyrical theme within a workplace drama”.
International Competition
The main prizes of the International Competition were presented by jury members Adnane Baraka, director, producer, musician and Message to Man prize-winner; Moussa Sene Absa, director, artist, writer, composer and producer; and Stacy Tolstoy, director and actress.
Golden Centaur Grand Prix and a cash prize of 250,000 roubles for Best Film of the Festival, awarded “For a message to man that has found its response”:
Sculpted Souls (Σμιλεμένες ψυχές), directed by Stavros Psillakis. Greece, 2025
First Centaur Special Jury Prize of the International Competition and a cash prize of 100,000 roubles, awarded “For resilience, love and self-sacrifice”:
Arina, directed by Ivan Druzhinin. Russia, 2026
Second Centaur Special Jury Prize of the International Competition and a cash prize of 100,000 roubles, awarded as “A work of art brimming with life”:
Corpus Christi (El Cuerpo De Cristo), directed by Bea Lema. Spain, 2026
Third Centaur Special Jury Prize of the International Competition and a cash prize of 100,000 roubles, awarded “For a simple question that no one can answer”:
The Victors (Los vencedores), directed by Pablo Aparo. Argentina, 2026
Special Diploma, awarded “For captured moments of intimacy and grace”:
Status “B”, directed by Gleb Vazhdaev. Russia, 2026
National Competition
The laureates of the National Competition were announced by jury members Andrej Certov, Lyubov Mulmenko and Alexei Khanyutin.
Diploma, awarded “For the ability to read the secret language of reality”:
Hideaway, directed by Nikita Kartsev. Russia, 2026
Diploma, awarded “For Light Breathing”:
Before the Sun, directed by Alisa Tamarova. Russia, 2026
Silver Centaur Special Jury Prize:
Maternal Dreams, directed by Anna Shveigolts. Russia, 2026
Silver Centaur for Best Documentary Film in the National Competition, awarded “For remaining a filmmaker while filming those closest to her”:
Mother, directed by Elizaveta Bobyleva. Russia, 2025
In Silico Experimental Film Competition
The awards in this section were presented by jury members Maria Kuvshinova, Andrei Rudyev and Sid Iandovka.
Diploma of the In Silico Experimental Competition Jury:
The Most Beautiful Man in the World (L’uomo più bello del mondo), directed by Paolo Baiguera. Italy, 2026
Main Prize of the Experimental Competition:
I Don’t Repeat It Twice, directed by Ksusha Kernosenko. Russia, 2025
Press Jury Prizes
The Press Jury awards were presented by Elena Gracheva, Asia Kolodizhner and Denis Osokin.
Diploma, awarded “For resisting destruction and fear”:
Hideaway, directed by Nikita Kartsev. Russia, 2026
Press Jury Prize, awarded “For a perfect message to the world about peace”:
Shalom, directed by Meital Zvieli. Israel, 2025
Student Jury Prizes
Student Jury members Artem Zhdanov, Elizaveta Savvina and Elizaveta Sogrina selected the two best works.
Prize awarded “For big cinema in a small form”:
Sit and Stay! (Assis, pas bouger!), directed by Camille Dumortier. France, 2025
Prize awarded “For the courage to be oneself”:
Sunday, directed by Giulio Tonincelli. Italy, 2025
Award for Contribution to World Cinema
The Message to Man Special Award for Contribution to World Cinema was presented at the Festival’s opening ceremony. It went to Ali Khamraev, a classic of Russian and Uzbek cinema.