Victor Lisakovich, Director, Winner of the International Film Festival "Won Together" for his Outstanding Contribution to Documentary Films, talks about Empathy, Festivals and the Modern Documentaries Fate

Viktor Lisakovich is the patriarch of Russian culture, a recognized master of documentary filmmaking, professor and the oldest Head of the department at VGIK, People's Artist of Russia, winner of the USSR State Prize, winner of the International Film Festival "Won Together" for his outstanding contribution to documentary films and winner of other prestigious awards – "Nika", "Golden Eagle", "Laurel Branch". Film critic Elena Ulyanova talked with the master on the eve of the XXI International Film Festival "Won Together" named after Vladimir Menshov.

A.U.: Viktor Petrovich, is the award that was presented to you at the XV "Won Together" Film Festival something special for you or just one of many festival awards that you have received over the years in cinema?

V.L.: The prize for contribution to cinematography is the most honorable. When colleagues recognize your achievements, it's worth a lot. It was especially nice to receive the award from Vladimir Menshov, whom I love and respect so much for his films.

A.U.: Viktor Petrovich, do you think documentary films are really flourishing now, as critics say?

V.L.: I would say that there is a flourishing of creativity, but who sees it – this flourishing? Who can evaluate it? Only they self among themselves. I do not understand and do not accept documentaries made for self-expression. I am an artist. It's very good to think like that, but what's next? What issues do you solve with your film? Creativity is closed, it has no way out. Once I went to television, where we made documentaries. And the main thing was that it had an outlet to the viewer. But now everything has changed, documentaries on television eke out a miserable existence. And the fact that we did it as a movie, and not as a montage of someone else's filmed story, it all goes away. In general, unfortunately, now, especially on television, the priority of the director as a creator has fallen; the cameraman is with technology, you can't get away from him, and the director can just do without him. Also, the introduction of producer priority in cinema is wrong. There is a person who is responsible for everything – this is the director, and the producer gives money and brings the films to the audience. But documentaries don't have a viewer. Unless we watch each other's films at the festival.

A.U.: And what do festivals mean to you as a filmmaker? What are they for?

V.L.: Festivals are wonderful. We watch each other's films, we can discuss them, enjoy each other's successes.… Many people have now forgotten how to do this – to be happy for someone else.

A.U.: Because there was some envy in this joy. They gave him a prize, but me? After all, I also shot well, what is better? And this is not our mentality, this is the modern mentality. This is not the case in the West, where everything is done with a smile on your face, but no one knows what's inside. We don't know how to be happy for show, so what comes out, it comes out.

V.L.: Absolutely. Things used to be different. There was a different atmosphere, the masters gathered, watched the work of the young people, helped them, rejoiced at their successes, promoted them. Right now, everyone wants to stand out so they can be noticed, and it doesn't seem like it's great if someone else gets noticed at the same time. But that old atmosphere is being revived by festivals. These are the platforms where we get to know each other, discuss each other and can be happy for each other. However, I would like to have more viewers and more communication, more discussion of films, even to the detriment of their number. It is necessary not only to watch, but also to talk about what has been watched, and to make efforts to attract viewers. It is important. And the festivals themselves are good.

The XXI International Vladimir Menshov Film Festival "Won Together" will be held in Moscow and Sochi from September 14 to 24.

The event will bring together documentary filmmakers from more than 40 countries and 39 cities of Russia. Their works reveal the themes of victory in various spheres of life, peacemaking, religious tolerance and humanism.

The organizers of the Film Festival are the World Peoples Assembly, the Integration Production Center, the Eurasian Academy of Television and Radio and the Intellectual Resource company. The festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

More information about the event is on the official website of the Festival.

Accreditation issues: media@world-assembly.org.