Live Broadcast of the Tsiolkovsky International Space Film Festival Opening Ceremony
On April 12, the conference hall of the State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky hosted the opening ceremony of the V Tsiolkovsky International Space Film Festival. This year, the festival’s competition program features around 100 films from 30 countries.
The guests were welcomed by the festival’s president, People's Artist of Russia Igor Ugolnikov, and the program director for the documentary film section, Igor Prokopenko. Joining the event via video message was the Governor of the Kaluga Region, Vladislav Shapsha, who wished the participants new connections and unforgettable experiences.
"Our festival has long become not just a platform for showcasing unique films and programs about space but also a space for exchanging knowledge and new ideas," noted Vladislav Shapsha.
The festival was ceremonially launched with a clapperboard gesture by Senator of the Russian Federation Anatoly Artamonov, alongside Igor Ugolnikov and Igor Prokopenko. Among the distinguished guests were Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education Ekaterina Kharchenko, Chair of the Moscow City Duma Alexey Shaposhnikov, Mayor of Kaluga Dmitry Denisov, and People's Artist of Russia Larisa Luzhina. Luzhina played the role of Anna Timofeevna, Yuri Gagarin’s mother, in the film "Thus Began the Legend", featured in the festival’s retrospective program.
No opening ceremony of the Tsiolkovsky International Space Film Festival is complete without greetings from cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). They wished the audience an inspiring and space-filled festival experience. Following this, students of GITIS presented a theatrical performance titled "GAGARIN".
Presentation of the "GAGARIN" Grand Prix
Igor Ugolnikov introduced the newly established "GAGARIN" Grand Prix, which will be awarded by the International Charitable Public Foundation "Dialogue of Cultures – United World". The prize is a replica of the monument to Gagarin located near the Museum of the History of Cosmonautics.
"Yuri Alekseyevich gazes into space with an open heart, looking into the Universe," remarked Ruslan Bayramov, president of the foundation, during the award presentation.
Festival’s Top Award – The "TSIOLKOVSKY" Grand Prix
The chair of the festival jury, Natalia Abakumova, director of the State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky, also took the stage to present the festival’s main prize – the "TSIOLKOVSKY" Grand Prix. The award is based on a sketch by Tsiolkovsky himself, depicting five small figures looking into a porthole, with an actual meteorite embedded within the statuette. The best film creators will be honored at the closing ceremony on April 16. As tradition dictates, on the opening day, the festival presents gifts to the Museum of the History of Cosmonautics.
Sculptor Alina Farniyeva, known for her miniature cosmonaut sculptures placed throughout the streets of Kaluga, donated a new bronze figurine to the museum. The sculpture represents a young Kostya (Konstantin Tsiolkovsky), embodying the nascent spirit of cosmonautics. It will be preserved as part of the museum's exhibition.
First-Ever "Poyekhali!" Music Competition
For the first time in the festival’s history, a music competition titled "Poyekhali!" (Let's Go!) is taking place, under the leadership of Andrey Baturin, president of the Eurasian Composers’ Union. A total of 85 entries were submitted, from which the jury selected five songs and two symphonic compositions. The opening ceremony concluded with one of these pieces – "Yuri Gagarin," a song composed and written by Rimma Bryzhakhina.
Premiere of the Official Opening Film
Following the official proceedings, the film crew of the festival’s opening documentary, "Embracing the World," presented their work to the audience. The creative team took the stage, including director Anna Filippova, screenwriter Ilya Chikolini, cinematographers Konstantin Kolodyazhny and Vladimir Lipatov, and producers Olga Rodionova, Natalia Burtseva, and Igor Ugolnikov, who also served as the film’s artistic director.
The Tsiolkovsky International Space Film Festival 2024 is held with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, State Corporation "Roscosmos," Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center Research Institute, Rossotrudnichestvo, the Government and Ministry of Culture of the Kaluga Region, the State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky, the Russian Planetarium Association, and other public and commercial organizations.
The festival’s key media partner is TASS, supported by media partnerships from Roscosmos Media and TRK "Nika."
On April 12, the conference hall of the State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky hosted the opening ceremony of the V Tsiolkovsky International Space Film Festival. This year, the festival’s competition program features around 100 films from 30 countries.
The guests were welcomed by the festival’s president, People's Artist of Russia Igor Ugolnikov, and the program director for the documentary film section, Igor Prokopenko. Joining the event via video message was the Governor of the Kaluga Region, Vladislav Shapsha, who wished the participants new connections and unforgettable experiences.
"Our festival has long become not just a platform for showcasing unique films and programs about space but also a space for exchanging knowledge and new ideas," noted Vladislav Shapsha.
The festival was ceremonially launched with a clapperboard gesture by Senator of the Russian Federation Anatoly Artamonov, alongside Igor Ugolnikov and Igor Prokopenko. Among the distinguished guests were Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education Ekaterina Kharchenko, Chair of the Moscow City Duma Alexey Shaposhnikov, Mayor of Kaluga Dmitry Denisov, and People's Artist of Russia Larisa Luzhina. Luzhina played the role of Anna Timofeevna, Yuri Gagarin’s mother, in the film "Thus Began the Legend", featured in the festival’s retrospective program.
No opening ceremony of the Tsiolkovsky International Space Film Festival is complete without greetings from cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). They wished the audience an inspiring and space-filled festival experience. Following this, students of GITIS presented a theatrical performance titled "GAGARIN".
Presentation of the "GAGARIN" Grand Prix
Igor Ugolnikov introduced the newly established "GAGARIN" Grand Prix, which will be awarded by the International Charitable Public Foundation "Dialogue of Cultures – United World". The prize is a replica of the monument to Gagarin located near the Museum of the History of Cosmonautics.
"Yuri Alekseyevich gazes into space with an open heart, looking into the Universe," remarked Ruslan Bayramov, president of the foundation, during the award presentation.
Festival’s Top Award – The "TSIOLKOVSKY" Grand Prix
The chair of the festival jury, Natalia Abakumova, director of the State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky, also took the stage to present the festival’s main prize – the "TSIOLKOVSKY" Grand Prix. The award is based on a sketch by Tsiolkovsky himself, depicting five small figures looking into a porthole, with an actual meteorite embedded within the statuette. The best film creators will be honored at the closing ceremony on April 16. As tradition dictates, on the opening day, the festival presents gifts to the Museum of the History of Cosmonautics.
Sculptor Alina Farniyeva, known for her miniature cosmonaut sculptures placed throughout the streets of Kaluga, donated a new bronze figurine to the museum. The sculpture represents a young Kostya (Konstantin Tsiolkovsky), embodying the nascent spirit of cosmonautics. It will be preserved as part of the museum's exhibition.
First-Ever "Poyekhali!" Music Competition
For the first time in the festival’s history, a music competition titled "Poyekhali!" (Let's Go!) is taking place, under the leadership of Andrey Baturin, president of the Eurasian Composers’ Union. A total of 85 entries were submitted, from which the jury selected five songs and two symphonic compositions. The opening ceremony concluded with one of these pieces – "Yuri Gagarin," a song composed and written by Rimma Bryzhakhina.
Premiere of the Official Opening Film
Following the official proceedings, the film crew of the festival’s opening documentary, "Embracing the World," presented their work to the audience. The creative team took the stage, including director Anna Filippova, screenwriter Ilya Chikolini, cinematographers Konstantin Kolodyazhny and Vladimir Lipatov, and producers Olga Rodionova, Natalia Burtseva, and Igor Ugolnikov, who also served as the film’s artistic director.
The Tsiolkovsky International Space Film Festival 2024 is held with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, State Corporation "Roscosmos," Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center Research Institute, Rossotrudnichestvo, the Government and Ministry of Culture of the Kaluga Region, the State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky, the Russian Planetarium Association, and other public and commercial organizations.
The festival’s key media partner is TASS, supported by media partnerships from Roscosmos Media and TRK "Nika."