Mosfilm film studio (in Russian, Мосфи́льм) is often described as the largest and oldest in Russia and in Europe. Its output includes most of the more widely-acclaimed Soviet films, ranging from works by Tarkovsky and Eisenstein (commonly considered the greatest Soviet directors), to Red Westerns, to the Kurosawa co-production (Дерзу Узала / Dersu Uzala) and the epic juggernaut Война и Мир / War and Peace.
History
The Moscow film production unit with studio facilities was established in November of 1923 by the motion picture mogul Aleksandr Khanzhonkov ("first film factory") and I. Ermolev ("third film factory") as a unit of the Goskino works. The first movie filmed by Mosfilm was On the Wings Skyward (directed by Boris Mikhin).
In 1927 a new film studio complex was started to be built on Mosfilmovskaya Street in Sparrow Hills of Moscow. This film studio was named after Moscow amalgamated factory Soyuzkino the Tenth Anniversary of the October. In 1934 the film studio was renamed to Moskinokombinat, and in 1936 – to Mosfilm. During the WWII the film studio was evacuated to Alma-Ata (August 1941) and merged with other Soviet film studios into the Central United Film Studio (TsOKS). The Mosfilm returned to Moscow at the end of 1943.
The famous Mosfilm logo, representing the monument "The Worker and Kolhoz Woman" by Vera Mukhina and Spasskaya Tower of Moscow Kremlin, was introduced in 1947 in Lyubov Orlova comedy Springtime.
By the end of the Soviet Union, Mosfilm had produced more than 3,000 films. Many film classics were shot at Mosfilm throughout its history and some of these were granted international awards at various film festivals.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Mosfilm continued operations as a quasi-private production company, led by the film director Karen Shakhnazarov. As of 2005, the company embraced ten independent studios, located within thirteen pavilions occupying the area of 13,000 sq. meters. Tours through this "Russian Hollywood" become increasingly popular, as they allow to view Mosfilm's enormous depot with 170 tanks and 50 vintage cars. The main pavilion is leased annually to hold the Golden Eagle Awards.
Selected films
- 1925 Броненосец Потемкин / The Battleship Potemkin (silent film), directed by Sergei Eisenstein (historical)
- 1934 Весёлые ребята / Jolly Fellows (musical comedy)
- 1936 Цирк / Circus (musical comedy)
- 1938 Волга-Волга / Volga-Volga (musical comedy)
- 1938 Александр Невский / Alexander Nevsky directed by Sergei Eisenstein (historical)
- 1946 Иван Грозный (2 серия) / Ivan The Terrible, Part II, directed by Sergei Eisenstein (historical)
- 1957 Летят журавли / The Cranes Are Flying directed by Mikhail Kalatozov (war drama), Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1958 winner.
- 1957 Огенные версты / Miles of Fire (ostern)
- 1959 Баллада о солдате / Ballad of a Soldier directed by Grigori Chukhrai (war film), Special jury prize of Cannes Film Festival in 1959 winner and Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay in 1961 nominant.
- 1960 Каток и Скрипка / The Steamroller and the Violin directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (short film)
- 1962 Иваново детство / My Name is Ivan directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (war film), the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival in 1962 winner.
- 1962 Гусарская баллада / Hussar Ballad directed by Eldar Ryazanov (comedy)
- 1963 Я шагаю по Москве / I Step Through Moscow directed by Georgi Daneliya (comedy)
- 1964 Я - Куба / I Am Cuba directed by Mikhail Kalatozov (expressionism, propaganda)
- 1966 Андрей Рублёв / Andrei Rublev directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (historical)
- 1966 Берегись автомобиля / Watch out for the Automobile directed by Eldar Ryazanov (comedy)
- 1966 Неуловимые мстители / The Elusive Avengers directed by Edmond Keosayan (Ostern)
- 1968 Война и Мир / War and Peace directed by Sergei Bondarchuk (historical), Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1968 winner.
- 1968 Бриллиантовая рука / Diamond Arm directed by Leonid Gaidai (comedy)
- 1969 Братья Карамазовы / The Brothers Karamazov (historical), Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1969 nominant.
- 1969 Белое солнце пустыни / White Sun of the Desert directed by Vladimir Motyl (Ostern)
- 1971 Чайковский / Tchaikovsky directed by Igor Talankin (historical), Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1971 nominee.
- 1972 Солярис / Solaris directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (sci-fi)
- 1972 Джентльмены удачи / Gentlemen of Fortune (comedy)
- 1973 Иван Васильевич меняет профессию / Back to the Future directed by Leonid Gaidai (comedy)
- 1975 Дерзу Узала / Dersu Uzala (Soviet-Japanese joint production) directed by Akira Kurosawa (historical), Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1975 winner.
- 1974 Свой среди чужих, чужой среди своих / At Home Among Strangers directed by Nikita Mikhalkov (ostern)
- 1975 Сибириада / Siberiade directed by Andrei Konchalovsky (saga)
- 1975 Зеркало / The Mirror directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (autobiographical)
- 1975 Ирония судьбы, или С лёгким паром! / Irony of Fate directed by Eldar Ryazanov (comedy)
- 1979 Сталкер / Stalker directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (sci-fi)
- 1979 Москва слезам не верит / Moscow Does Not Believe In Tears (melodrama), Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1980 winner.
- 1981 Частная жизнь / Private life directed by Yuli Raisman (drama), Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1981 nominant.
- 1981 Тегеран 43 / Teheran 43 (spy)
- 1983 Ностальгия / Nostalghia directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (drama)
- 1985 Иди и смотри / Come and See directed by Elem Klimov (war film)
- 1986 Кин-Дза-Дза / Kin-Dza-Dza directed by Georgi Daneliya (science-fiction)
- 1987 Человек с бульвара Капуцинов / A Man from the Boulevard des Capuchines (red western)
- 2002 Звезда / The Star (war film)
See also
External links
Cinema of the Soviet UnionFilm studios Moscow Economy of Moscow
mosfilm | Мосфильм | Mosfilm