The best documentaries were named at the Unknown Russia Festival

The closing ceremony of the International Documentary Film Festival (III All-Russian Documentary Film Festival) "Unknown Russia" took place in Moscow, during which the winners of the competition program were announced. The festival, which was held in an international format for the first time, summed up the results and noted the best works reflecting the diversity of modern documentary.

Winners of the competition program:

In the "Rediscovering Russia" nomination, the film "The Forest. The Keeper of Life" (dir. Vladislav Grishin and Irina Shapman).

This is a large—scale film observation of the primeval forests of the north of Eurasia - unique ecosystems preserved in Russia. The painting reveals the complex interrelationship of living organisms and invites the viewer to re-feel the connection between man and nature.

The audience jury prize was awarded to the film "The Red Book" (dir. Ilya Zero).

The best film in the category of "Production and technological cinema" was the film "Droplet" (dir. Olga Bayeva).

The heroine of the film is a welder girl named Lera, who, despite stereotypes, chooses a "male" profession and turns it into her life's work.

The audience jury prize was awarded to the film "Mine: work at a depth of 400 meters" (dir. Vladimir Sherstobitov).

In the "Characters" nomination, the film "The Tale of the Gilabyl" (directed by Sergey Dogorov) won.

The film tells about the work of the charity foundation "Dr. Clown" in temporary accommodation facilities. Against the backdrop of ruined destinies and the loss of their homes, the film's characters try to restore people's ability to laugh as a form of overcoming trauma.

The audience jury prize was awarded to the film "The Endless Day of Vladimir Kalyaev" (directed by Sergey Petriga).

In the Popular Science Film category, the film "The Pit" (dir. Nikolai Boehm).

The science fiction story explores the past and future of the Mir quarry, combining real technology and futuristic ideas for creating an eco-city under a dome.

The audience jury prize was awarded to the film "The Science of Life" (directed by Mikhail Rodionov).

The winner in the nomination "History" was the painting "Cherkashiny. Perestroika Performance" (dir. Vladimir Sumashedov).

The film is dedicated to the artists Valera and Natasha Cherkashin and explores how the language of art and the perception of reality are changing at the turn of the epochs.

The special prize of the Committee on Culture of the CIS Business Center for Economic Development was awarded to the film "Guardians".

The audience jury prize was awarded to the film "The Lilac Wind of Parajanov" (dir. Ali Khamrayev).

The film "Life Goes On" (directed by Meri Vardanyan) won in the category "Ethnoculture".

The painting reveals everyday life as a space of memory, where stories of struggle, loss and overcoming are hidden behind habitual actions.

The audience jury prize was awarded to the film "Where the Swallows Live" (dir. Katrina Romanova). The film also received a special prize from ANO Moskino.

The film "Providing Life" (directed by Elena Shalkina) was awarded in the "Soul of Russia" nomination.

The film takes the viewer to the largest port in the Arctic Circle, where people working in harsh conditions ensure the life of ships and preserve a place for dreams and human warmth.

The audience jury prize was awarded to the film "Our Fragile Happiness" (dir. Natalia Anisimova). The film also received a special prize from the Roscongress Foundation. The main prize of the festival, the Grand Prix, was awarded to the paintings "Emelianenko" directed by Valeria Gaia Germanica and "Forest. The Keeper of Life" directed by Vladislav Grishin and Irina Shapman.

The Unknown Russia Festival has confirmed its status as an important platform for the development of documentary films, bringing together authors, producers, industry and viewers. The business program of the festival included 14 events: plenary discussions, book lectures, project reviews, pitching and master classes. It was attended by 54 speakers and more than 1,200 spectators. All the events were broadcast online on the VK Video platform, where they gained a total of more than 120,000 views.

The competition program demonstrated a wide range of topics — from ecology and science to human stories, culture and social challenges. More than 7,000 viewers attended the screenings of the festival program in cinemas.

The 2026 winners reflect the key trends of modern documentary filmmaking: attention to people, interest in complex social processes, and a desire to find new artistic forms.

The next festival will be supplemented with a new nomination "CLASSIFIED" — a story about events and people who devoted their lives to strengthening the power and security of our Motherland. An unusual job for ordinary people. A life for the Fatherland.

The closing ceremony became the final point of the festival, which this year not only expanded the geography of participants, but also recorded a new stage in the development of documentary films in Russia.