The program of the 23rd Open Russian Film Festival "Kinotavr 2012", which took place in Sochi from June 3 to 10, is in the public domain. The first Kinotavr laureate is Karen Shakhnazarov.
The jury of the festival this year included actress Vera Glagoleva, as well as directors Alexander Kott ("Gromozeka"), Alexey Fedorchenko ("Oatmeal"), Anna Melikyan ("Mermaid"), Nikolai Khomeriki ("A Tale of Darkness"), Bakur Bakuradze ("Hunter"). The chairman of the jury is Vladimir Khotinenko.
14 films were evaluated. These are "Atonement" by Alexander Proshkin, "Kokoko" by Avdotya Smirnova, "Convoy" by Alexei Mizgirev, "I will be near" by Pavel Ruminov, "Live" by Vasily Sigarev, "Teacher's Day" by Sergei Mokritsky, "This is what is happening to me" by Viktor Shamirov, “I don’t love you” by Alexander Rastorguev and Pavel Kostomarov, “Until the night separates” by Boris Khlebnikov, “Empty house” by Nurbek Egen, “Stories” by Mikhail Segal, “White Moor or three stories about my neighbors” by Dmitry Fix. The debut films were also announced: "For Marx …" by Svetlana Baskova and "Daughter" by Natalia Nazarova and Alexander Kasatkin.
The awards at the festival were distributed as follows:
- the best film: "I will be near" by Pavel Ruminov;
- Best Director: "To Live" by Vasily Sigarev;
- Best Actress: Yana Troyanova, Anna Mikhalkova from Kokoko by Avdotya Smirnova;
- Best Actor: Azamat Nigmanov from the film "Convoy" by Alexey Mizgirev;
- Best Cinematography: Alisher Khamidkhodzhaev from the film "To Live" by Vasily Sigarev;
- Special Diploma of the Jury "For the unbearable lightness of being": Victoria Shevtsova from "I Don't Love You" by Alexander Rastorguev and Pavel Kostomarov;
- Best debut: "Daughter" by Natalia Nazarova and Alexander Kasatkin;
- the main prize of the Guild of Historians of Cinema and Film Critics: "To Live" by Vasily Sigarev;
- Special Diploma of the Guild of Historians of Cinema and Film Critics: "Stories" by Mikhail Segal;
- Prize named after G. Gorin for the best script: "Stories" by Mikhail Segal;
- Prize named after M. Tariverdiev for the best music for the film: "Convoy" by Alexey Mizgirev;
- Prize in the "Short Meter" competition: "Atavism Legs" directed by Mikhail Mestetsky.
The first film shown as part of Kinotavr 2012 was Boris Khlebnikov's Until the Night Separates.
At the closing ceremony of the film festival, the film "Steel Butterfly" by Renat Davletyarov was shown, who acted not only as a producer (his usual role), but also as a director. The members of the selection committee highly appreciated his work, noting the impeccable acting work and a good script.
