TV BRICS documentary on gold mining in Urals to compete at Antares International Film Festival

A documentary by the TV BRICS International Media Network about Russia’s mining industry has been included in the competition programme of the 2nd Antares International Film Festival, which will take place from 6 to 10 August in Moscow at the Digital Business Space (CDP). The film will be screened on 10 August as part of the documentary block.

The project "Uralian Anomaly" (2025; author – Ksenia Komissarova, director – Andrey Porshnyak, cinematographer – Dmitry Golovko) was filmed in Sverdlovsk Oblast. It tells the story of the geological profession and the methods of gold extraction in one of Russia’s richest mineral-producing regions. More than 100 people took part in the filming process. The film premiered in Ekaterinburg on 24 January 2025.

The Antares festival brings together films dedicated to working people and the importance of skilled labour. This year’s competition will feature 104 works from 29 countries, including Brazil, India, China, Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, and others. Participants will present full-length fiction and documentary films, short films, and animated features.

The winners will be selected by a professional international jury and awarded honorary diplomas and specially designed statuettes by sculptor Grigory Pototsky. The jury for the short fiction film competition includes Ivan Zakharenko, Head of Thematic Broadcasting and Special Media Projects Department at TV BRICS. According to him, participation in such international film forums allows the media network to keep track of trends across various cinematic genres, strengthen its expertise in the field, present Russia’s achievements across diverse formats, and monitor the development of cinema in BRICS+ countries.

“TV BRICS has long-standing and fruitful cooperation with leading film festivals in BRICS+ nations, fostering professional dialogue within the film community. Our network produces original documentaries and television programmes, and a special place in our media library and on-air schedule is reserved for short films – auteur cinema from BRICS countries. I hope that being part of the Antares jury will deepen our understanding of emerging trends in independent cinema and introduce us to new talents,” said Ivan Zakharenko.

Festival guests can expect a rich business programme. Sessions at the Digital Business Space will cover support for labour-themed cinema, crowdfunding strategies, the promotion of socially orientated films, and engagement with youth audiences. In addition, participants will have access to workshops for directors and producers, as well as masterclasses on filming in challenging industrial environments.

Photo: TV BRICS