Journalist Sergey Lomakin on the «WON TOGETHER» Film Festival and the Challenges of Distributing Documentary Films in the Modern World

Sergey Lomakin is a member of the jury of the National Competition of the XXI Vladimir Menshov International Film Festival «Won Together», a member of the Public Council of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Director of Special Projects Directorate of Russian Public Television, Vice President of the Eurasian Academy of Television and Radio; a journalist, media manager, author, producer and host of more than 150 documentary television films, and recipient of the TEFI professional award «For Contribution to the Professional Community».

Film scholar Elena Ulyanova spoke with Sergey Lomakin ahead of the XXI International Film Festival «Won Together».

– Sergey Leonidovich, you have had a long-standing relationship with the film festival. What does the current one mean to you? What are your expectations of it?

– I truly consider myself a kind of festival veteran, since we started back in Sevastopol! All these years, I have either been a member or a chair of a jury. And today, I am sincerely glad that «Won Together» continues its journey despite all external difficulties and the challenges of the times. The festival lives on, and that is what matters.

In the National Competition, we review around 30 films to ultimately determine the laureates. This year, the program features a particularly large number of works devoted to Russia’s participation in the special military operation, the destinies of veterans, the theme of national unity, and support for our fighters on the front line. And I would like to note that this is very good, high-quality cinema. Without false pathos or declarative patriotism, the authors tell the stories of real people whose destinies are inseparably linked with the destiny of the country. Today, it is extremely important both to make films honestly and to show them to audiences.

– And where else, apart from the festival, can audience see these works? Do they have such an opportunity?

– Here we are touching on a fundamentally important issue. Many good, profound films are made, but they do not always make it onto television channels or receive wide theatrical distribution. Documentary films often simply do not reach their audiences – they lack screens and television airtime. This is a systemic problem that needs to be addressed.

And it seems to me that, in this situation, the «We Won Together» Film Festival becomes a true salvation, a kind of breakthrough. It gives films a second life by bringing the best works to a big screen. Audience see them now, during the film festival days, and then through the traditional Film Marathon, which travels across the entire country.

Let us recall that the XXI Vladimir Menshov International Film Festival «Won Together» is being held in Moscow and Sochi on September 14 - 24.

The event brings together documentary filmmakers from more than 40 countries and 39 cities across Russia, who explore the themes of victory in various spheres of life, peacemaking, religious tolerance and humanism in their works.

The organizers of the film festival are the World Peoples Assembly,
the Production Centre «Integration», the Eurasian Academy of Television and Radio, and the Company «Intellectual Resource», with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

More detailed information about the event can be found on the official website of the festival.

For accreditation inquiries: media@world-assembly.org.