Daria da Conceicao's documentary film “BACK TO USSR” became the first Russian project to take part in the cultural program of the BRICS International Summit, which was held from August 22 to 24 in South Africa. With the support of Synergy University, the show took place for the first time on the African continent.
A documentary film project filmed in Mozambique and South Africa is a sincere dialogue between the cultures of Russia and Africa. Prominent political figures who received education in the USSR and Russia became heroes: doctors, engineers, military men. The film is replete with picturesque landscapes of Africa, scenes from the everyday life of local residents, colorful musical and dance episodes, sketches from festive and everyday moments of such a distant and exotic world.
Among the main characters: Nelson Mandela's close friend - Gabriel Massimo Tokyo Sexwale (one of the leaders of the fight against apartheid, who shared a prison cell with N. Mandela, later - Prime Minister, FIFA trustee, philanthropist). Another hero of the film, Prince Siphiwe Dhlomo, was also present at the special screening. Also present in the auditorium were the Prince of Eswatini - His Highness Musi Dlomini (son-in-law of Nelson Mandela) and summit delegates, including Maria Manuella Lukas - Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Mozambique to South Africa and representatives of the High Commission of the Republic of Mozambique in South Africa, Siabonga S. Swele – Ambassador of South Africa to China, etc.
A special guest of the film screening was also Maka Malefani, one of the leaders of a large investment project that includes a film cluster with multifunctional film production capabilities in South Africa: “The film is very bright and relevant. I hope that we will collaborate with the film team in the future, because our cultures have many complementary aspects that need to be combined in global cultural projects! I thank Daria da Conceicao for the invitation!”
Producer Thandi Davids also attended the screening, knowing about this project from the film’s premiere at the 44th Moscow International Film Festival, where she was a member of the jury: “I am glad to collaborate with your project and invite you to participate in film festivals in South Africa.”
Director of the Department of Information and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova, who took part in the film and visited South Africa as part of the BRICS summit, outlined the significance of this project: “The successful experience of creating the documentary film “BACK TO USSR” and its ceremonial screening in as part of the cultural program of the meeting of the leaders of the BRICS partner countries in South Africa in August this year. again clearly demonstrated the mutually beneficial nature of cooperation between Russia and African states, based on the rich historical experience of our relations. The countries of the continent still fondly remember Moscow's assistance during decolonization and the construction of states independent from Western dictatorship.
Now our cooperation is developing in the new century, at a new level and in new areas, such as the film industry. I’m sure that filming “BACK TO USSR” is not the last such undertaking and that such projects will have a great future in the future.”
The film was presented by the author of the project, Daria da Conceicao, and Anastasia Tarasyuk, a representative of Synergy University, the official partner of the project. Director Daria da Conceicao noted that it is extremely important for the project that the largest Russian international corporation Synergy University has become a partner, since their area of interest is one of the main themes of the film - the education of African specialists in Russia and cooperation in this industry. Separately, the director thanked the president of the Synergy corporation, Vadim Lobov, for his attention to the project.
Also present at the screening were the project’s director of photography Vyacheslav Lozhkovoy, executive producer Marina Cherepanova and line producer Victor di Gouveia, special representative of the BRICS International Alliance of Strategic Projects in South Africa.
Previously, the Russian premiere of the short film took place at the Moscow International Film Festival, where representatives of the embassies of Mozambique, Somalia, Bahrain, Grenada and others were present. The project received many awards at various festivals.
A documentary film project filmed in Mozambique and South Africa is a sincere dialogue between the cultures of Russia and Africa. Prominent political figures who received education in the USSR and Russia became heroes: doctors, engineers, military men. The film is replete with picturesque landscapes of Africa, scenes from the everyday life of local residents, colorful musical and dance episodes, sketches from festive and everyday moments of such a distant and exotic world.
Among the main characters: Nelson Mandela's close friend - Gabriel Massimo Tokyo Sexwale (one of the leaders of the fight against apartheid, who shared a prison cell with N. Mandela, later - Prime Minister, FIFA trustee, philanthropist). Another hero of the film, Prince Siphiwe Dhlomo, was also present at the special screening. Also present in the auditorium were the Prince of Eswatini - His Highness Musi Dlomini (son-in-law of Nelson Mandela) and summit delegates, including Maria Manuella Lukas - Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Mozambique to South Africa and representatives of the High Commission of the Republic of Mozambique in South Africa, Siabonga S. Swele – Ambassador of South Africa to China, etc.
A special guest of the film screening was also Maka Malefani, one of the leaders of a large investment project that includes a film cluster with multifunctional film production capabilities in South Africa: “The film is very bright and relevant. I hope that we will collaborate with the film team in the future, because our cultures have many complementary aspects that need to be combined in global cultural projects! I thank Daria da Conceicao for the invitation!”
Producer Thandi Davids also attended the screening, knowing about this project from the film’s premiere at the 44th Moscow International Film Festival, where she was a member of the jury: “I am glad to collaborate with your project and invite you to participate in film festivals in South Africa.”
Director of the Department of Information and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova, who took part in the film and visited South Africa as part of the BRICS summit, outlined the significance of this project: “The successful experience of creating the documentary film “BACK TO USSR” and its ceremonial screening in as part of the cultural program of the meeting of the leaders of the BRICS partner countries in South Africa in August this year. again clearly demonstrated the mutually beneficial nature of cooperation between Russia and African states, based on the rich historical experience of our relations. The countries of the continent still fondly remember Moscow's assistance during decolonization and the construction of states independent from Western dictatorship.
Now our cooperation is developing in the new century, at a new level and in new areas, such as the film industry. I’m sure that filming “BACK TO USSR” is not the last such undertaking and that such projects will have a great future in the future.”
The film was presented by the author of the project, Daria da Conceicao, and Anastasia Tarasyuk, a representative of Synergy University, the official partner of the project. Director Daria da Conceicao noted that it is extremely important for the project that the largest Russian international corporation Synergy University has become a partner, since their area of interest is one of the main themes of the film - the education of African specialists in Russia and cooperation in this industry. Separately, the director thanked the president of the Synergy corporation, Vadim Lobov, for his attention to the project.
Also present at the screening were the project’s director of photography Vyacheslav Lozhkovoy, executive producer Marina Cherepanova and line producer Victor di Gouveia, special representative of the BRICS International Alliance of Strategic Projects in South Africa.
Previously, the Russian premiere of the short film took place at the Moscow International Film Festival, where representatives of the embassies of Mozambique, Somalia, Bahrain, Grenada and others were present. The project received many awards at various festivals.
