Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Mosfilm Film Concern – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
February 24, 2026
News editorial office
50
The premiere of the 4K restored version of Andrei Tarkovsky's "Andrei Rublev" took place at Mosfilm's Cinema Center. The film was presented by Mosfilm General Director Karen Shakhnazarov, People's Artist of the Russian Federation Nikolai Burlyaev, who in his youth played the bell-player, a breakthrough role for him, and People's Artist of the Russian Federation Yuri Nazarov, who played the two princes.
"We're premiering this for several reasons. First, it's a new restoration in 4K. Second, this year marks the 60th anniversary of this film's release. I saw it for the first time exactly 60 years ago at the Progress Cinema, and I must say it made a very strong impression on me then. It's undoubtedly a remarkable work that has stood the test of time and is still seen around the world," Karen Shakhnazarov told the audience from the stage.
The director added that Tarkovsky's work should be seen on the big screen, as it was created for that format. He also invited the specialists who worked on the restoration—Irina Agafonova, Ekaterina Solovieva, Marina Aleksakhina, and Mikhail Tusmatov—to the stage and thanked them for their work. "The people who are doing this restoration stand behind me. It's actually a very complex, labor-intensive, and tedious job. Some people think restoration is simply a scanning process, but no—every frame is cleaned up," he said. According to Karen Shakhnazarov, the restoration of "Andrei Rublev" took about two months in total.
The premiere played to a full house at the Center Kino Cinema (Mosfilm Cinema Park), and on February 22, the film was released in re-releases in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, and other cities. It is noted that the film will be released in more locations so that audiences can experience the film as it was originally intended—in modern quality and on the big screen.
"The film was banned, sat on shelves for seven years, then broke through the rocks into this world. It began showing in select cinemas, and now it will be shown throughout Russia. As Lermontov said, there is a sense of truth in the human heart. I sincerely thank Karen Georgievich and all these wonderful heroes who are dedicated to saving and prolonging the life of great films. God bless them all! And I would recommend that officials remember that our culture includes Andrei Tarkovsky, who said that an artist who does not believe in the creator cannot be an artist," said Nikolai Burlyaev.
Nikolai Burlyaev noted that even upon his first meeting with Andrei Arsenyevich, he immediately recognized him as a genius: “By all outward appearances, Tarkovsky was absolutely the same as us – he played Vysotsky’s guitar, courted the ladies… but from his eyes, it was clear that he was in a completely different dimension.”
From the cinema stage, Yuri Nazarov emphasized that "Andrei Rublev" is a "double self-portrait"—that of Tarkovsky himself, whose vision permeates the entire film, and that of Anatoly Solonitsyn, who brilliantly portrays the icon painter. "After all, this is our history, culture, and loyalty," Nazarov said. He also thanked the restorers for giving the painting a new life.
The film studio plans to re-release several more of Andrei Tarkovsky's films shot at Mosfilm in 2026: "Solaris," "Mirror," "Stalker," and "Ivan's Childhood." All films have also undergone frame-by-frame digital image and sound restoration.
About the film
The idea for a film about the icon painter came from actor Vasily Livanov, who envisioned himself in the lead role and came up with the original title, "The Passion According to Andrei." Tarkovsky submitted a proposal for the film back in 1961. Filming, which spanned years, took place in Suzdal, Pskov, Vladimir, and Moscow.
Anatoly Solonitsyn played Andrei Rublev in the film. To realistically portray his vow of silence, the actor actually did not speak for four months. The film also stars Rolan Bykov, Ivan Lapikov, Yuri Nikulin, Nikolai Grabbe, and Mikhail Kononov.
The film was harshly criticized and effectively banned. Its triumph at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival occurred partly against the wishes of film authorities. It was only in 1971 that the film received a limited Soviet release in a shortened version, and the full version was released only during the perestroika era.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.