International Film Festival “Crossroads of Civilisations” brings together filmmakers from 13 countries with support of TV BRICS

The First International Film Festival “Crossroads of Civilisations” has concluded in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, uniting directors, actors and producers from 13 countries under the motto “The traditions of cinema – the cinema of traditions.”

Out of 155 applications, more than 20 works were selected for screening, 16 of which competed for awards in four main categories.

Documentary films produced by the TV BRICS International Media Network – "Uralian Anomaly" (2025, Russia, written by Ksenia Komissarova, directed by Andrey Porshnyak, cinematography by Dmitry Golovko) and "Partitura. Young Music of Russia" (2025, Russia, directed by Ivan Zakharenko) – as well as films from the network’s partners in Brazil, India, Iran, Nigeria, South Africa, Argentina, and Cuba formed an essential part of the event. Many of these films were shown in Russia for the first time.

“Today, the TV BRICS International Media Network supports more than 20 major film festivals in Russia, Brazil, India, China, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Bolivia, and Cuba. […] The mission of TV BRICS is to create a unified BRICS information space and to disseminate objective information about the humanitarian and economic activities of the member states and their partners. […] Joint initiatives in cinema open up new opportunities for creative exchange, co-productions, and the promotion of national cultures on the global stage,” noted Irina Sidorova, Head of the Eurasian Countries Cooperation Division, International Cooperation Department, TV BRICS.

The success of the international programme was highlighted at the award ceremony. The Cuban film "Caribbean Festival: Festival of Fire" was shortlisted in the Documentary category, while the South African film “Lisa and her mole” received a special jury prize.

"This recognition is a powerful affirmation of the film’s message and the creative team’s dedication to storytelling that bridges cultures and inspires empathy," emphasised Mordecai Ndlovu, director of the animated film “Lisa and her mole”.

With the support of TV BRICS, the competition also featured the following films: “Discovering Ofala", depicting one of the traditional ceremonies of the Igbo people (Nigeria, 2023); "Mergulho", about the lives of Paralympic athletes (Brazil, 2020); the joint Russian-Iranian production “Written heritage”, dedicated to Islamic manuscripts (2024); and "Therukoothu", a film about a unique art form from southern India (India, 2025).

"The International Film Festival 'Crossroads of Civilisations' vividly demonstrated that the language of cinema is universal. With the support of TV BRICS, we managed to include remarkable films from Argentina, Brazil, India, Iran, Cuba, Nigeria and South Africa, many of which were screened in Russia for the first time. Each director’s work is a unique story, but together they form a powerful dialogue about love, beauty, hope and mutual understanding. Through cinema, countries express their unity in striving for peace and harmony. We are delighted that the 'Crossroads of Civilisations' has played a constructive role in strengthening international cooperation in the field of culture and cinema,” said Ekaterina Borisova, organiser of the festival.

In addition to film screenings, the festival hosted a business and educational programme featuring workshops on frame-by-frame animation and meetings with film industry professionals.

It is noted that the festival, held across five venues in the city, confirmed its status as one of the most significant cultural initiatives in the region.

The festival was organised by the ANO Centre for Cultural Initiatives “Atmosfera” with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Culture of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic.

Photo: EyeEm Mobile GmbH / iStock