The 2014 National Award of the Russian Federation for Literature and the Arts is awarded to Tamara Melnikova for the comprehensive restoration of the Lermontov National Memorial Estate Tarkhany, the revival of estate traditions and the popularisation of Mikhail Lermontov’s creative heritage.
Tamara Melnikova was born on November 15, 1940, in the village of Yarmolintsy in Kamenets-Podolsk Region of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. She is the director of the Lermontov National Memorial Estate Tarkhany in Penza Region. In 2008, Ms Melnikova was awarded the Order of Glory for her outstanding achievements in the development of national culture and the arts and for many years of fruitful work. In 2008, she was awarded the Government of the Russian Federation Prize for Culture for her project of the comprehensive restoration and preservation of the conservation area at the Lermontov National Memorial Estate Tarkhany.
During her long career, Ms Melnikova has transformed Tarkhany into one of the most significant museum centres in Russia and one of the most valuable cultural heritage sites. The strategy for attracting local resources and using reconstruction technologies used by Ms Melnikova have made it possible to restore the cultural landscape and develop the adjacent territory.
The 2014 National Award of the Russian Federation for Literature and the Arts is awarded to Alexander Sokurov for his contribution to the development of national and world cinema.
Alexander Sokurov was born on June 14, 1951, in the village of Podorvikha, Irkutsk Region. He is a film director at the Lenfilm Studios, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation (2004), Laureate of the National Award of the Russian Federation for Culture and the Arts for his documentaries Elegiya iz Rossii… Etudy dlya Sna (Elegy from Russia… Etudes for Dreams), Dukhovnye Golosa (Spiritual Voices), (1997) and for the feature film Telets (Taurus) (2002).
Mr Sokurov is an internationally acclaimed master, creator of over 40 feature and documentary films, each of which was a cultural milestone, combining new cinema language and deep philosophical ideas about the modern world.
The director spends a lot of time supporting young talents. Since 2011, Mr Sokurov has led a film directors’ workshop at the Kabardino-Balkarian State University. In 2013, he set up the Primer Intonatsii (Example of Intonation) Fund to help budding filmmakers produce their films.
The 2014 National Award of the Russian Federation for Literature and the Arts is awarded to Chulpan Khamatova for her contribution to the development of national theatre and cinema arts.
Chulpan Khamatova was born on October 1, 1975, in Kazan. She is an actor at the Moscow Sovremennik Theatre, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation (2012), laureate of the 2003 Russian Federation National Award for Culture and the Arts for her roles in classical and modern plays. In 2006, she was awarded the Order of Friendship for her contribution to the development of theatre art and her creative achievements.
Ms Khamatova is one of the most popular and outstanding modern actresses. She is a virtuoso performer, creating psychologically true and all-round characters. She has also won great respect and acclaim for her activity in the Podari Zhizn (Give Life) Fund, set up in 2006 to help children with cancer and haematological diseases.