The Russian Cultural Center in Beijing hosted the premiere screening of the new documentary film by the RGS "Russian Himalayas: Walking in the Clouds." The film tells about Russian travelers, scientists, and artists who have been studying Tibet, the Himalayas, and the Karakoram for more than 200 years. The beauty of this amazing region was introduced to residents of different countries of the world by Nikolai Przhevalsky and Gombozhab Tsybikov, Pyotr Kozlov and Nikolai Roerich as well as many other our compatriots.
The filming of the movie started in 2016 in India and Nepal, China, Bhutan, Pakistan and in Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Krasnodar Territory. Artists, art historians, scientists, diplomats, public figures, and statesmen of these countries took part in the work on the film.
The film was presented by the manager of the project of the Krasnodar Regional Branch of the RGS "Russian Heritage of the Himalayas: Journey Continues", the general producer of the film, Ivan Chaika. He stressed that Chinese viewers were the first to get acquainted with the movie.
“This is not an accident. The Years of Culture between Russia and China are now taking place. Our expedition ‘Russian Heritage of the Himalayas: Journey Continues‘ took place there, our scientists worked there. The artist Sergei Dudko painted Chinese Tibet for the collection of paintings ‘Bouquet of Peaks: Great Mountains of the World.’ When we conducted scientific research, were able to publish books and monographs, when this collection of paintings was created, and a film was shot, it was important for us that residents of the countries where we worked got acquainted with the results of the project. The RGS strives to bring the peoples of Russia and China closer together. We will continue to work within the framework of our project to strengthen the bridge of friendship, interaction, and cooperation connecting our countries, so that our Chinese friends know and understand Russia better, get acquainted with our natural wealth and cultural heritage," Ivan Chaika said.
The audience at the premiere. Photo: Russian Cultural Center in Beijing
Director of The Russian House in China Tatyana Urzhumtseva, Chinese public and political figures, representatives of the cultural community, members of the Russian Geographical Society, Russians and local residents attended the show.
The director of the film "Russian Himalayas: Walking in the Clouds" is a famous Russian documentary filmmaker, winner of the Crystal Compass Award Vladimir Shuvannikov.
“Tibet, the Himalayas, and the Karakoram are not only the most inaccessible region in the world, but also one of the most beautiful in the world. Anyone who has been there at least once, definitely wants to return. Filming in the Himalayas and Tibet made one of the most vivid impressions on me. The snow-white Himalayan peaks and the huge blue and turquoise lakes of Tibet are unlike anything else. You need to see this for yourself to understand why many prominent Russian scientists and travelers were so attracted to these places. We followed their routes and made a film to remind of their contribution to world science and that it was Russian geographers who first mapped most of this mountainous region," Vladimir Shuvannikov noted.
The film "Russian Himalayas: Walking in the Clouds" was created by the Russian Geographical Society and the organizing committee of the Crystal Compass National Award with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, the investment holding Alias Group, Afipka NPZ. Events in China are held with the support of Rossotrudnichestvo.