NIKA AWARDS 2012
Andrei Smirnov’s most recent film ‘Once Upon a Time There Lived a Simple Woman’ was the forerunner at this year’s Nika Awards ceremony in Moscow, winning awards for Best Film, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.
Shown at KinoKlub in March, ‘Once Upon a Time…’ is a gripping historical drama that charts the horror and tragedy of the Russian Revolution and subsequent civil war, as seen through the eyes of Varvara, a young peasant woman. Described by Vedomosti as 'a deeply insightful portrait of the Civil War', the project was a labour of love for Mr Smirnov, heralding his return to film directing after a 30 year hiatus.
Organised by the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Science, the Nika Awards were first held in 1987 and are Russia’s oldest and most prestigious professional film awards.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
Best Film
ONCE UPON A TIME THERE LIVED A SIMPLE WOMAN
Directed by Andrei Smirnov
Best Director
ANDREI ZVYAGINTSEV, Elena
Best Screenplay
ANDREI SMIRNOV, Once Upon a Time There Lived a Simple Woman
Best Actor
SERGEI GARMASH, House
Best Actress
DARYA YEKAMASOVA, Once Upon a Time There Lived a Simple Woman
NADEZHDA MARKINA, Elena
Best Cinematography
MIKHAIL KRICHMAN, Elena
Best Music
LEONID DESYATNIKOV, The Target
Best Sound Editing
VLADIMIR LITROVSIN, Vysotsky
Best Art Direction
VLADIMIR GUDILIN, Once Upon a Time There Lived a Simple Woman
Best Costumes
LYUDMILA GAINTSOVA, Once Upon a Time There Lived a Simple Woman
Honorary Award for Contribution to Cinema
OLEG BASILASHVILI