The decision was announced during the 12th Congress of the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation, held in Moscow at the Gerasimov All-Russian State Film University.

Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova read a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to the minister, the president emphasized the high level of the forum and expressed his confidence that the participants would discuss a wide range of current issues in the field of cinema and contribute to the implementation of cultural policy.

In his message to the Congress participants, Putin congratulated Mikhalkov on his 80th birthday, highlighting his contribution to the development of Russian cinema and culture, and awarded him the country’s highest order: the Order of St. Andrew First Called.

During the event’s discussions, the need to strengthen film education was emphasized as a tool to counteract the ideological and commercial influence of Western cinema, especially that produced in Hollywood.

jdt/jav/lam/gfa