There will be a movie: NMG projects won the main awards of the Heroes of a Big Country Award

The films "Red Silk", "Dear Willy", "Curious Varvara" and "Lilies of the Valley. Such tender Love" received awards in Moscow on February 12 as part of the III National Film Award "Heroes of a Big Country". The Golden Stars were awarded to the heroes of screen time — those who today form an idea of honor, duty and choice for millions of viewers. The ceremony was not just a summing up of the year, but also a public conversation about what a hero should be like in the era of TV series and clip thinking, and why cinema is now assuming the role of a carrier of meanings and values. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

Guides of Meanings

On the eve of Defender of the Fatherland Day, the Golden Stars of the heroes of Russian content were awarded to the directors and producers of feature films, documentaries and animated films at the Rossiya National Center. This is how the award was presented by the presenters of the ceremony Nika Zdorik, the star of the film "Lilies of the Valley. Such a tender love", and Viktor Khorinyak, familiar to the viewer from the franchise "The Last Hero".

This year, the awards were presented in 19 categories — seven industrial, seven thematic and five special. The competition was high: out of 532 announced projects, only 55 reached the final. The Expert Council assessed not only the artistic level of the works, but also their social significance — their impact on the viewer, their contribution to the education of youth, the development of science, technology and industry, as well as, in a broader sense, to the demographic and cultural agenda of the country. The selection took place in two stages.

The ceremony began with the Russian national anthem. The audience stood up, and this pause set the general tone of the evening: they talked not only about cinema as an industry, but also about cinema as a carrier of meaning.

— Talented people really need support and recognition. They know what stories the audience needs today and why having the right films has ceased to be an abstract concept," Nika Zdorik noted in her speech.

Another key thought of the evening was heard from the stage: TV series and films have become more vehicles for traditions and values today than books. In the context of visual thinking, it is the screen that forms the language, images, and behaviors of a new generation.

"We don't play propaganda movies"

Among the winners in the main nominations are several notable projects created with the participation of NMG. The adventure detective directed by Andrey Volgin "Red Silk" was named the best feature film. The film was released in February 2025, having managed to collect a significant box office in Russia, and got into the top 5 rentals in China.

The plot of the film takes place in 1927 on the Trans-Siberian Express, where a former tsarist intelligence officer and a young Red Army soldier find themselves embroiled in a dangerous race for secret documents that can change the fate of entire nations. The characters face conspiracy, espionage, and their own internal contradictions—courage, honor, and doubt.

— Our country has a huge, colossal experience, it has passed various tests, but it still stands on its feet. And we don't play propaganda movies, we never have. It seems to me that it is wrong to teach something to the viewer. The viewer must understand for himself what the author wanted to say. And then decide for himself whether he will accept it or not," Andrei Volgin told Izvestia.

The director noted that the young audience of the film rather sympathized with Gosha Kutsenko's character. Although he is not the most positive character in "Red Silk," the audience loved his actions and acting.

— It's interesting because we were sure that people would rather like the characters of Milos Bikovich and Gleb Kalyuzhny. In "Black Silk" we will continue to develop the theme of heroism and respect for the motherland. But it will be shown from two sides. And everything else is still a secret," the director shared with Izvestia.

Another award winner is the TV series Dear Willie. He received the "Golden Star" in the nomination "Best Game series". The award was accepted by one of the creators of the project, Igor Prokopenko, Deputy General Director for Documentary and nonfiction Projects at REN TV.

— 30 years ago, I met people who became the prototypes of "Dear Willie." Technically, I was also familiar with Brezhnev, because I attended the parade in the 80s, but I talked to all the other participants in this project personally. This story is very relevant today. I tried to do it ten years ago, but it didn't work out. And now Volodya Shchegolkov and I have come up with a second season," Igor Prokopenko said from the stage.

Every Katya needs her own Lech

The project "Lilies of the Valley. Such a tender love" was awarded as the best film project, and Nika Zdorik was called "an actress who forms the image of a real hero."

— I honestly didn't expect it! And I sincerely wish that every Katya finds her Lech," the winner exclaimed.

The TV series "Curious Varvara" also took the award. He won in the category "Best Children's Film Project". Other laureates include the animated film "Heroes of the Arctic", the TV series "Warsaw 21", the project "Blood Group", and the short film "The Rear Guards of the Russian Federation".

In addition to the awards, an important component of the forum was a business program — discussions about the role of cinema in shaping values, psychological work with the audience, what kind of heroes the country and the world need, and how the film industry can respond to the challenges of the time. Experts combined cinema, science, education and government projects, discussing how the power of visual narrative influences the formation of identity and cultural orientations of young people.