Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
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Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev summed up the results of the third season of the all-Russian competition for the best trip to the Far East and Arctic, "Far East – Land of Adventure." The awards ceremony took place at the National Center "Russia." The online broadcast was watched in all regions of the country, from Kaliningrad to Chukotka.
The competition is supported by the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President in the Far Eastern Federal District, the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East, the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation, and the Social Initiatives Development Fund.
The awards ceremony was attended by heads of federal ministries and agencies, State Duma deputies, members of the competition jury, famous travelers, and media representatives.
"The 'Far East – Land of Adventure' competition reveals the Far East and all of our boundless Russia. This is important. We can go on and on calling for patriotism, for love of the Motherland, but love for it begins with journeys like these: from the mountains, from the rivers, from every flower we see in the morning on a hike. By planning a journey, preparing for it, gathering gear, training, we become stronger, and therefore, Russia becomes stronger. But we can't walk every trail with you. Even a professional jury couldn't handle such a task. That's why our competition is a film competition. And these films offer an opportunity to open a new chapter in adventure for millions of people. I'm confident that many of those who see the works will grab a backpack or a kayak and join the journey," said Yuri Trutnev, the competition's initiator, opening the ceremony.
In the third season of the "Far East – Land of Adventure" competition, 859 films were submitted for jury evaluation, almost 50% more than last year. Participants included residents not only of the Far East and the Arctic, but also of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, and many other cities.
Hiking was the most popular topic among the competition participants, with 492 films submitted, followed by water-themed films (92), and winter-themed films (90). A new category, "Arctic Journey," initiated by President Vladimir Putin, received 146 submissions. During the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland, the competition created a special category, "Paths of Victory," for films about journeys to places of military glory in the Far East and the Arctic. By the end of the season, 39 films had been submitted.
"I remember how eagerly we waited as children for Yuri Senkevich's 'Travellers' Club' and Cousteau's 'Underwater Odyssey.' It's truly a miracle that now, every year, hundreds of Far Easterners compete with these legends, creating content that evokes no less emotion and demonstrates an even greater love for their homeland. These people don't just make films—they reveal their souls, telling stories about places they feel and love. The growth in the number of nominees from 200 in the first season to over 800 today is true evidence that Russia, especially the Far East, is boundlessly rich in talent," noted Alexey Chekunkov, Minister for the Development of the Far East and Arctic.
"We don't interfere with the jury's work. They evaluate the results fairly and impartially. Every film is important to us, and even more important are the journeys behind them. Every time someone travels through our country, through our Far East, they discover a new chapter in their love for their homeland. Whenever I have free time, I always travel through the Far East. And not only because Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has tasked me with developing the Far East, but because it's an incredibly beautiful region, where there truly are places to discover, where you can see and learn so much," said Yuri Trutnev.
Awards were presented to participants in four main categories: "Hiking," "Water Trip," "Winter Trip," "Arctic Trip," as well as "Paths of Victory," and several special competition categories. The Grand Prix winner, who received the top prize of 3 million rubles, was also announced.
The finalists in the Winter Journey category were Sultim Bazarov from Buryatia with his film "On the Path of Geser: Ascent to a Legend" and Andrey Zakharenko from Kamchatka Krai with his film "Ski-sailing." Kamchatka resident Anna Semashkina won with her film "Beringia – A Lifelong Journey." Incidentally, the Semashkin family owns the Kamchatka kennel "Snow Dogs," where they breed and train sled dogs, care for them, and prepare them for competitions.
The competition's special category, "Paths of Victory," highlights the importance of travel in preserving historical memory and is dedicated to the Year of Defender of the Fatherland in Russia. Films in this category explore routes and expeditions to sites of military heroism in the Far East and the Arctic. The entries offer a fresh perspective on military history tourism. They follow the paths of victory past military fortifications, along the lines of contact, and through territories that, along with their beautiful landscapes, still bear the marks of the Great Patriotic War. Each film is also a journey, as only films shot outside city limits were accepted for the competition.
Artem Kruglik won first place in the "Paths of Victory" category for his film "Shumshu." The filmmaker, a Sakhalin resident, traveler, photographer, videographer, and documentary filmmaker, made the film. Among the finalists were Aldar Bazarov and Igor Shatin.
Igor Shatin, a first-year student at the Far Eastern Federal University School of Law, submitted his video "Khasan Line: Heroes Come to Life," filmed in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Krais. It takes viewers along the paths taken by the defenders of Primorye in 1938 and highlights significant battlefield locations. The film, directed by Aldar Bazarov, a builder by trade, tells the story of the defenders of the Arctic. A resident of Buryatia, he traveled to the Murmansk Region to pay tribute and share the story of the heroic deed of his fellow countryman, Radna Ayusheev, who was among the heroes who defended Musta-Tunturi.
"The 'Paths of Victory' nomination will definitely continue until we win the special military operation. And I believe it will continue even further. Our soldiers from all over the country, including those from the Far East, are defending the country's freedom and independence in the Northern Military District. Remembering the heroic deeds of our fathers and grandfathers, touching their glory—this is especially meaningful. We must preserve the memory. Then we will be stronger. Then others will be less inclined to test our mettle," said Yuri Trutnev.
This season's competition featured 92 video entries dedicated to water travel. Participants in this category could submit a film about rafting, sea or underwater travel, or even surfing. The finalists in the "Water Travel" category were Sergey and Elena Marchenko from the Moscow region with their film "You Have to Go Here" and Dmitry Nishimnykh from the Khabarovsk Krai with his film "Zhom-Bolok." The winner was Anton Kovylin from Primorye with his film "Alien Chukotka. Kayaking with Whales."
Three authors won the special category "Unlimited Possibilities": Natalia Nazarenko, head of the media center at the Ussuriysk Automobile and Technical College, which trains students with disabilities; inclusive education teacher Yegor Sorokin; and student Danil Kosenko. In their video about their journey through Primorsky Krai, they prove that the Far East is truly a land of boundless opportunity. "In the video, we showed, through the eyes of students with disabilities, that opportunities are limitless and that travel is accessible to everyone. If you have the drive and desire, you can travel, even with disabilities," said Natalia Nazarenko.
Over 50% of the submitted entries were accepted into the "Hiking Trip" category. Participants could film a video of their hiking trip, bike route, or, for example, horseback riding through the wilderness. The geography of hiking trips is surprisingly broad. Submissions include tundra, taiga, remote mountain ranges, and even deserts. Most trips are multi-day adventures, full of challenges, overcoming obstacles, and ultimately achieving a set goal: completing the route.
The finalists in the "Walking Trip" category were Kristina Perestoronina from Primorsky Krai with her film "A Voice Between Peaks" and Dmitry Varyanikov from Kamchatka Krai with her film "A Five-Day Route Along the Edge of the Ring of Fire." The winner was Elina Bakunova from Stavropol with her film "Sands Under the Northern Sky," about a trip along the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM).
One of the most powerful experiences travelers can have in the Far East and the Arctic, something unmatched in any other region of Russia, is observing marine life in its natural habitat. Films about such adventures were nominated for the "Best Marine Life Journey" category. Expedition participants must maintain silence and distance to avoid frightening the animals. The winner was Kirill Romanov from Primorye with his film "In Search of Bowhead Whales," about a nearly month-long journey.
The competition's new category, "Arctic Journey," was introduced. President Vladimir Putin ordered the competition's expansion at the Eastern Economic Forum. First place in the category went to Denis Rategov from Krasnoyarsk Krai for his film "Putorana: Svetlogorsk – Norilsk." The finalists were Dmitry Barabanov (Arkhangelsk Oblast, "The Path of Ancestors") and Evgeny Shkaruba (Arkhangelsk Oblast, "Mangazeya Sea Route").
The "Best Children's Trip" category traditionally garnered considerable attention. The winners were Nadezhda and Pavel Kuznetsov from Khabarovsk. The film tells the story of an autonomous sports training trip along the Nimakan River (difficulty category IV-V), which took place in the Verkhnebureinsky District of Khabarovsk Krai. Over four days, the team of young tourists covered 187 km to hone their technique in navigating challenging obstacles and consolidate their experience of autonomous rafting.
A highlight was the announcement of the Grand Prix winner. The prize for the best trip to the Far East went to Marina Galkina for her film "Alone in the Tundra. 700 Kilometers of Travel." The award was presented to the winner by Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Irina Yarovaya and jury member Alexander Moroz, traveler, snowboarder, and director of the Snezhnaya Dolina ski resort.
At the end of the awards ceremony, the best films with inspiring routes for young audiences were shown.
"We will continue the competition. The number of submissions increases every year. This means the competition is interesting to people, and we must continue our work. We need to think about a television program that will open the competition. We can select the best films for the entire country to see," emphasized Yuri Trutnev.
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