The 2022 Russian Federation National Award for outstanding achievements in humanitarian activity has been presented to Karen SHAKHNAZAROV.
Karen Shakhnazarov was born on July 8, 1952, in Krasnodar. General Director of the Mosfilm Cinema Concern. People’s Artist of the Russian Federation (2002). Deputy Chair of the Presidential Council for Culture and Art, member of the Presidential Commission for State Decorations. Member of the Council for the Development of the Russian Film Industry, member of the Board of the Union of Cinematographers of Russia, member of the Ministry of Culture Board, member of the Board of the National Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences of Russia. Chair of the Supervisory Council of Public Television of Russia. Awarded the orders For Services to the Fatherland, IV degree (2012) and III degree (2022), the Order of Alexander Nevsky (2018) and the Order of Honour (2008). Winner of the RSFSR State Award named after the Vasilyev Brothers (1998) and the Russian Federation National Award in Literature and Art (2003, 2013).
Mr Shakhnazarov is a prominent Russian filmmaker, screenwriter, producer and one of the leading Russian cinema masters. His films have a distinctive style featuring light irony, kind humour and wisdom.
His films have received over 70 international and national prizes and awards and are loved by audiences of all generations. His films are distinguished by an acute sense of time, the ability to single out the most important trends of the era, and the skill to entertain audiences and make them think and show compassion at the same time.
Mr Shakhnazarov has headed Mosfilm Concern since 1998. Under his leadership, the studios underwent a large-scale modernisation which made it possible to implement creative ideas of any complexity and ensure a full-cycle film production within one studio.
Today, Mosfilm is a world-class cinema studio. It can be considered a national asset owing to its rich cultural heritage, high technical level, state-of-the-art cinema technology, broad opportunities for domestic filmmaking and large-scale cultural and educational work.
Along with rich creative activity, Mr Shakhnazarov is engaged in active public and educational work. He pays a lot of attention to strengthening the potential of domestic cinema, preserving and multiplying the glorious traditions of the Russian cinema school, promotes the professional growth of young filmmakers, and the patriotic and humanistic education of the rising generation.
Mr Shakhnazarov upholds a committed civil position on current issues pertaining to public life, Russia’s domestic and foreign policy.