And medals, and wreaths

The final of the 36th FICTS Sports Movies & TV Festival was held in Milan from 14 to 19 November. It was a week of cinema, sport, television and culture. The international jury, chaired by Dr. Carlo Bozzali, selected 160 works out of 970, which reached the final of the competition in Milan.

They were divided into 7 categories. More than 200 directors and producers, more than 200 journalists, more than 800 guests among athletes and actors, 64 TV networks and 85 film and content production companies participated in the Milan final.

Only 160 works from 970 were selected, photo © Evgeny Utkin

During the week, the Festival held an open display of all competition films. Anyone could come and watch any of them. There were several films from Russia on a wide variety of subjects, including "Irina", staged on the anniversary of Irina Viner-Usmanova, and "Three Seconds", when the USSR national team won the USA team in the most difficult basketball game, and about Lev Yashin, and about the “magnificent three" of our hockey players. But the Iranian delegation seemed to be especially numerous. There, 28-year-old Farnaz Amini stood out for her outfits, who brought two films to the competition.

At the opening, the Italian team in rhythmic gymnastics Farfalle (“Butterflies”) performed in honor of the coach Irina Viner-Usmanova, who was awarded “Guirlande d'Honneur” there. In addition, there were a lot of famous women from around the world, Olympic and world champions in various sports, and one actor, the legendary for the Italians Kabir Bedi, from the film “Sandokan”.

 Farnaz Amini, photo © Evgeny Utkin

At the end, of course, the results were announced. Here, too, was the famous Italian actor Lino Banfi (he was also awarded), as well as the head of Bosco di Ciliegi Mikhail Kusnirovich. Michael showed an excellent knowledge of Italian (no wonder he was given the title of Commander of the Italian Republic), saying that he was wearing up several Olympic teams and all members of the IOC. He was awarded with the most important award “Excellence Guirlande d’Honneur”.

The same award was also presented to the President of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), Alisher Usmanov, who was unable to attend the ceremony. Maria Melnichenko, program director of Art Science and Sport Foundation, received a high award for him. By the way, Maria just returned from the Vatican, where the Alisher Usmanov Foundation helped to open the wonderful exhibition of the Tretyakov Gallery "The Russian Way: from Dionysius to Malevich".

Franko Ascani (left) and Mikhail Kusnirovich (right), photo © Evgeny Utkin

In addition, the director of the National Theater of Nice, Irina Brooke (daughter of playwright Peter Brooke), received the FICTS Diamond. Olga Balashova-Lehman performed the aria of “Casta Diva" from "Norma” Vincenzo Bellini, the third battalion of the Lombardy carabiniers performed the Anthem of Italy, first danced a couple of adults, then children ...

IOC President Thomas Bach and Jean Todt, President of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), delivered a video message, the head of the administration of the Prime Minister of Italy Giancarlo Giorgetti, Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana and the President of the International Federation of Sports Film and Television (FICTS) prof. Franco Ascani held a speech... and started awarding film winners.

Maria Melnichenko, program director of Art Science and Sport Foundation, photo © Evgeny Utkin

Among the Russian films noted the film "Irina". It won the top prize, “Guirlande d'Honneur”. The prize, a crystal medal, was awarded to Russian films “Lev Yashin - Number 1”, “The Starry Echo of Mikhail Gromov” and “The Three for All Seasons” (Mikhailov-Petrov-Kharlamov). So this year was the most productive for the highest awards for the Russians.

Evgeny Utkin, Milan, Italy

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