On the evening of November 7, 2023, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia attended the closing ceremony of the XX International Charity Film Festival "Radiant Angel", held in Moscow at the cinema "October" from November 1 to 7.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the male choir "Russian Format" performed the prayer "To the King of Heaven". A video clip "The Protection of the Virgin" was shown on the screen. Traditionally, the days of the festival are timed to the celebration of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.
The presenters gave the floor to the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Radiant Angel Film Festival, S.V. Medvedeva. The Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District I.O. Shchegolev announced the greeting of the President of Russia V.V. Putin.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed the forum participants. The Patriarch, in particular, noted: "A good movie is a movie that tells us about the most important enduring values, about sacrifice, about love, about friendship, about compassion, about mercy. All this is so lacking in the modern world, torn by conflicts and contradictions. The works presented at the festival pose eternal questions to the audience about the meaning of life, the relationship between people and the spiritual growth of the individual. Revealing the uneasy world of the human soul, the directors strive to offer the audience Christian answers to these questions. It is important to note that such works express a good idea, executed at a high artistic level. "Radiant Angel" is a unique festival. All these years, its organizers have been showing and rewarding really good and kind films."
After the welcoming words, the awards ceremony of the XX International Film Festival "Radiant Angel" took place.
The chairman of the jury, People's Artist of Russia Vladimir Mashkov announced the winner. The Grand Prix of the XX International Charity Film Festival "Radiant Angel" this year was awarded to the drama directed by Alexander Zachinyaev "At the very White Sea" of the visor. The film won in the main nomination "Best Feature-length feature film"
The film "By the White Sea" is a story about a boy, Sanya, a pupil of a boarding school in the Far North. The father of the main hero.I drowned in the White Sea. So children's intransigence and thirst for justice lead a child to a small island. A teenager has to face challenges on his way, as well as challenge the elements themselves.
The organizers of the festival are the Foundation for Social and Cultural Initiatives, the Center for Spiritual and Moral Culture "Pokrov", the production company "Fest-Film" with the assistance of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media.
The Film Festival is held under the patronage of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Integrated Target Program "Spiritual and Moral Culture of the younger generation of Russia", President of the Foundation for Socio-Cultural Initiatives S.V. Medvedeva.
The spiritual trustee of the film forum is His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.