South African documentary filmmakers complete 70-day expedition from Murmansk to Magadan

The members of the international expedition arrived in Magadan, having completed their 70-day journey to the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. The expedition set off on 9 May from Murmansk. During this time, the film crew travelled in two "Ural" lorries, crossing more than 30 regions of Russia and covering over 15,000 kilometres. The TV BRICS International Media Network acted as the project’s international media partner.

The team comprises South African documentary filmmakers Johan Badenhorst and Streicher Badenhorst, as well as test drivers. The main aim of the expedition is to gather material for a multi-part documentary series about Russia aimed at an international audience. The participants visited major cities, including Vologda, Volgograd, Kazan, Ufa, Omsk, Novosibirsk, and Irkutsk, as well as remote villages. Lake Baikal, the Kazan Kremlin and iconic monuments also featured in the footage.

"The journey from Murmansk to Magadan was an extraordinary experience for us. Crossing eight time zones and covering 15,000 kilometres in 70 days, we witnessed the beauty of Russia in all its diversity. But what will stay with us forever is the journey itself – the thousands of kilometres travelled in the 'Ural' and our encounters with ordinary people. The kindness and hospitality with which we were welcomed in every corner of Russia made this expedition truly unforgettable. We will definitely tell the world about it," said Johan Badenhorst.

Johan Badenhorst is a South African director, producer and documentary filmmaker. Over the past 25 years, he has undertaken 13 expeditions, covering 400,000 kilometres. His documentary projects have been filmed across Africa, Madagascar, and India. He has previously visited Russia – in 2020, whilst planning the expedition. In an exclusive interview with TV BRICS, he spoke about the preparations for the journey, which took around seven years, and about his impressions of travelling through the BRICS countries.