The Golden Unicorn Awards are a set of awards for artistic excellence in film which recognises achievements of Russian cinematography and international film-makers creating Russian-themed films.[1] The awards were established by Filip Perkon in 2016[2] in London, United Kingdom. The ceremony takes places annually, following Russian Film Week.[3][4]

The mission of the Golden Unicorn Awards is to bring contemporary Russian cinematography and modern Russian culture to the attention of a wider international audience. The awards also aim to improve European-Russian cultural exchange, encouraging distribution of Russian films abroad and motivating international filmmakers to produce films about Russia by introducing them to the Russian audience.[5][6]

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Golden Unicorn statuette, made of Bohemian glass and handcrafted in the Czech Republic
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Filip Perkon, founder of the Golden Unicorn Awards and Russian Film Week

Eligibility

Feature-length, animation, short and documentary films should be produced in Russia and released 18 months prior to the start of Russian Film Week. International films do not have to be produced in Russia but have to be Russian-themed. The film producers have to submit the films electronically or in DCP format with English subtitles through the Russian Film Week or the Golden Unicorn Awards FilmFreeway portal no later than November 1 of the relevant year.[6]

Nomination committee

The nomination committee review the submissions and select the films for consideration of the jury. The nomination committee is independent from the jury.[1]

The nomination committee in 2018:[7]

  • Valeri Jerlitsyn
  • Olga Miloshunas
  • Anna Shalashina

Jury

The independent jury consists of film industry professionals, such as filmmakers, critics, actors, professors, and producers.

The jury in 2018:[8]

The jury in 2017:[9]

Ceremony

The ceremony [10] takes place every year in a form of a charitable gala following the Russian Film Week. The Golden Unicorn Awards collaborated with the Naked Heart Foundation[11] to fundraise GBP 160,000 [12] during the Russian Film Week and the main ceremony in 2018.[13] The awards also raised GBP 85,000 [14] for the Gift of Life Charity [15][3] in 2016.

Golden unicorn symbol

The symbol of the golden unicorn was chosen as a common notion for the Russian and British nations. The golden unicorn was depicted on the Russian Coat of Arms along with St. George in 16th-century Russia.[16] The golden unicorn is also one of the symbols of Great Britain.[17]

Nominations

The Golden Unicorn is awarded for the following categories:[18]

  • Best Feature Film
  • Best Screenplay
  • Best Actor
  • Best Actress
  • Best Short Film
  • Best Documentary
  • Best Animated Film
  • Best Foreign Film with a Russian connection

Special awards:

  • Best Contribution to Promoting Russian Culture Abroad
  • Best Emerging Talent
  • General Producer's Award

Winners

More information Nomination ...
Nomination [6]2019 [19][20]2018[21]2017[22]2016[23]
Best Feature Film [24]Van GoghsHow Viktor "the Garlic" Took Alexey "the Stud" Тo The Nursing Home[25]Loveless (film)The Student
Best ScreenplayThe HumoristHow Viktor "the Garlic" Took Alexey "the Stud" Тo The Nursing HomeLoveless (film)About Love
Best ActorDaniel Olbrychski / Van GoghsEvgeny Tkachuk / How Viktor "the Garlic" Took Alexey "the Stud" to the Nursing HomeAleksandr Yatsenko / ArrythmiaPetr Skvortsov / The Student
Best ActressAnna Mikhalkova / Another WomanIrina Starshenbaum / SummerMaryana Spivak / Loveless (film)Renata Litvinova / About Love
Best Short FilmWhite markThe SignThe Law of excluded third8 dir. Anna Melikyan
Best Foreign Documentary FilmBuratinoA Sniper’s WarOleg and the Rare ArtsStephen Coates and Paul Heartfield / Roentgenizdat
Best Documentary FilmThe Case of SobchakINTO_Nation of the Great OdessaLake Vostok
Best Animated FilmThe Snow Queen: Mirrorlands [26]N/AListening to BeеthovenSheep and Wolves dir. Maxim Volkov, Andrei Galat
Best Foreign Film with a Russian connectionGive Me LibertySergio & SergeiLady MacbethWar and Piece, BBC series dir. Tom Harper
Best Emerging TalentAlena Mikhailova, actress / Love Them AllTimothy Zhalnin, Director / CoupledDaria Zhovner / ClosenessSemen Treskunov / Good Boy
Best DebutThe Humorist
Best Russian Film on EcologyFather Baikal [27]
Close

References

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