Opening of the XX All-Russian Festival of Historical Films “Kinoveche” took place in Tver

In Tver, in the Tver Academic Drama Theater, on October 16, the opening of the XX All-Russian Festival of Historical Films “Kinoveche” took place, the press service of the regional government told.

The guest of honor of the ceremony was Governor Vitaly Korolev. The event was attended by the President of the festival, People's Artist of Russia Svetlana Druzhinina, People's Artists of Russia Dmitry Kharatyan and Alexander Domogarov, Honored Artist of Russia Olga Krasko, actor, TV presenter Mikhail Mamaev and other stars of theatrical and film arts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Tver region the center of the Russian land for its huge role in the fate of our state. And it is deeply symbolic that it is in our Upper Volga region that the festival of historical films Kinoveche is held. In it, everything that is especially dear to our people is service to the Motherland, readiness to perform a feat for its sake, real friendship and love. Cinema continues this tradition. Each work presented at it is a confession of love for Russia, said Vitaly Korolev.

The head of the region expressed hope that the Tver region will continue to be a home for the festival and presented Svetlana Druzhinina with an honorary badge “For the good of the Tver land”.

“The Tver land has always stood guard over Russia’s interests. The world knows many of your most famous poets, singers, composers. There are a lot of them now. I want to thank you and wish you great courage and love, said Svetlana Druzhinina.

The competition program of the festival “Kinoveche” in 2026 included 8 films reflecting the history of the Russian state from the Tatar-Mongolian invasion to the first flight into space. The best films will be selected by the jury, which included writer and screenwriter Alexander Zvyagintsev, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, director and actress Natalia Bondarchuk, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation and screenwriter Natalia Dabizha, famous Tver actor Taras Kuzmin and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Grigory Gladkov.

This is my first time at this festival, which I am very happy about. First of all, I am glad to be in this city, very beautiful, the first impressions are just amazing. The festival is always a big celebration for me. Here you meet friends, the team that organizes this festival, I am very dear, said Natalia Dabizha, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, Head of the Department of Direction of the Animated Film of VGIKA, Member of the Competition Jury of the Kinoveche Festival.

Tver land became close to a large number of stars of domestic cinema. Here the legendary picture “Chapaev” was shot, the first color Russian film “The Nightingale-Solovushko”, the first adaptation of Alexander Ostrovsky’s play “Thunderstorm”, popular among many generations “Stuffed”, “Siberiad”, “State Counselor” and many others.

Chairman of the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation Nikita Mikhalkov was one of those who congratulated Kinoveche on the anniversary festival and shared memories of his shooting days in the Upper Volga region.

The Kinoveche Festival is one of the pearls of our country, because it supports interest in national historical cinema. And I am absolutely convinced that it will be held for the fourth time on the Tver land with great success. This is not a foreign place for me – we filmed “Siberiad” here. I especially remember the river Tvertsa – small, touching, beautiful, where I spent all my free time from filming. It's hometown. I congratulate everyone and hope that you will enjoy each other and the cinema, Nikita Mikhalkov addressed the guests.

One of the program films was the military film “Seven versts before dawn” – a historical drama based on real events. It tells about the oldest Hero of the Soviet Union Matvey Kuzmin - he performed the "feat of Ivan Susanin" in 1942. It is noteworthy that Matvey Kuzmin was a resident of the city of Veliky Luki, which at that time was part of the Kalinin region.

The main character of the tape was played by Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Fedor Dobronravov.

Everything related to the Great Patriotic War is sacred to me. In this film, I play the man who became the oldest Hero of the Soviet Union – during his feat in the war he was 85 years old. I’ve never played such a harsh person – the director always told me: “Don’t look up, Fyodor Viktorovich, stand and watch from behind.” He had a heavy look, a heavy character according to the description of eyewitnesses. And I was so eager to embody it that they stopped approaching me on the set and taking pictures, Fyodor Dobronravov shared.

“We made the film in real conditions. We built a village, restored it in a real place, where the feat was actually accomplished, where our hero lived. Artists, respectively, all brought from the Pskov region. They tried to do as much as possible without schedules, even in bad weather. I can say as a casting director that Fyodor Dobronravov is almost a portrait resemblance to Matvey Kuzmin, said Marina Selivanova, general producer, author of the idea of the film Seven Versts Before Dawn.

The screening of the film “Seven versts before dawn” in the frames of the festival took place in the drama theater immediately after the opening ceremony.

In total, at the XX All-Russian Festival of Historical Films "Kinoveche" more than 50 films will be shown at 12 venues in Tver, Rzhev, Torzhka, Staritsa, Bezhetsk, Kalyazin, Toropce, Kimrakh, Konakovo, in the villages of Zavidovo and Turginovo.

We expect the most positive results from the festival, the response of the viewer, applause, smiles, kindness, because the pictures that will be provided are just good from the screen. We were in the Tver region many times, and then I found out that I have, it turns out, a grandmother from Kimr, Tver grandmother. And I'm on my way to Kimra for a creative reunion. I was even shown a picture that there is a house Luzhins, and I am very interested to see it. Maybe I'll see my hometown again. I’m going to talk about myself and my friends, very good actors. These are Kuznetsov, Smoktunovsky, Tikhonov and many others. I am happy to remember the time when I worked with them, was on the site, – People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Larisa Luzhina.

A detailed program of shows and events of the festival can be found on the website of the government of the Tver region.

The age limit of the festival films is up to 18+ inclusive.