Russian film director Nikita Mikhalkov was born on October 21, 1945 in Moscow, in a creative family. Father – the Soviet poet Sergei Mikhalkov
(1913-2009), author of the National Anthem of the USSR and Russia, the mother – writer Natalia Konchalovskaya ( 1903-1988 ). In 1959, Nikita Mikhalkov first starred in the movie – he played in an episode in the film by Vasily Ordynsky “Clouds over Borsk”, in 1961 – in the film by Henry Hovhannisyan “The Adventures of Krosh”, and being a student of Shchukin School, in 1963 Mikhalkov made his debut in the film by Georgy Daneliya “Walking the Streets of Moscow.”
Biography of Nikita Mikhalkov
In 1963-1966 Mikhalkov studied at the acting department at drama school named after BV Shchukin. In 1971 he graduated from the Directing Department of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography. The first notable work of director Nikita was the film “At Home Among Strangers, Stranger Among Friends” (1974), in which he played the title role, and also directed and co-wrote the script. This adventure film was in fact the first of the so-called “Western” in the Soviet cinema.
International recognition to Mikhalkov brought the film “An Unfinished Piece for Mechanical Piano” (1977), received the first prize in the Festival of San Sebastian. Movies “Slave of Love” (1976), “Five Evenings” (1979), “A few days of life II Oblomov” (1980),”GAI inspector(1982),” Without Witness”(1983), as well loved by audiences and film critics. Marcello Mastroianni, who played a major role in the film of Mikhalkov’s “Dark Eyes” (1987) was awarded the prize “Best Actor” at the Cannes Film Festival and nominated Best Actor for “Oscar.
In the late 1980s, Mikhalkov creates a producer entity “Three T” (or “TRI T”, letter T resembles three Russian words meaning Creativity, Partnership, Labor). 1993, the film of Nikita Mikhalkov’s “Urga: Territory of Love” (1992) was nominated for “Oscar” for best foreign film. In 1994, Mikhalkov was at the same time a producer, a director, a writer, and a performer of the title role in the film “Burnt by the Sun” brought him the long-awaited “Oscar” and the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. Again he spoke in the same capacities on the set of his new international project “The Barber of Siberia” (1998), the output of which took place on the Russian screen in 1999.
Directing career
As an actor Mikhalkov starred in such films as “Sibiriada” by Mikhalkov – Konchalovsky, “Station for Two” and “Cruel Romance” by Eldar Ryazanov, “The Insulted and Injured” by Andrew Eshpai, “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Hound of the Baskervilles” by Igor Maslennikov, and many others. Recent years he played a vibrant role in the film “The State Counselor” by Philip Yankovsky, “Blind Man’s Bluff” by Alexei Balabanov and “Persona Non Grata” by Krzysztof Zanussi.
In 2003, screenwriter, actor, and producer Nikita Mikhalkov was actively engaged in documentary journalism. Together with the TV channel “Russia” produced a series of programs about the White Guards under the name “Nikita Mikhalkov. Russian choice.” The same year there were two documentary films “Father” and “Mother” to mark the 90th anniversary of Sergey Mikhalkov and the 100th anniversary of his mother Natalia Konchalovskaya.
People’s Artist of the RSFSR ( 1984). The President of the Russian Cultural Foundation (1993). Chairman of the Russian Cinematographers’ Union. A member of the Presidential Council for Culture and the Arts. President of the Moscow International Film Festival. The head of the studio “TRI T”, where for the last 20 years all of his movies were made.
Personal life
Nikita Mikhalkov was married twice. His first wife was beautiful Russian actress Anastasia Vertinskaya. With his wife Tatiana he has more than 40 years of happy family life. They have four children. Sons Stepan (from his marriage to actress Anastasia Vertinskaya), son Artem, daughters Anna and Nadezhda.
Nikita Mikhalkov ‘ s Prizes and Awards:
- “Best Director” for 1984.
- The main prize of the Venice Film Festival in 1991.
- “Kinotavr” in the “Grand Prize” of the rating for 1992.
- Award “Nika” in the “Best Director” for 1992.
- Award “Felix” in the “Best Film” for 1993.
- “Oscars” in the category “Best Foreign Film” in 1994.
- Khanzhonkov medal in the category “Cinema event of the year” for the organization of XXI Moscow International Film Festival (1999).
- State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of literature and the arts (2000, for the film “The Barber of Siberia”).
- Prize XVI JWC “Kinotavr” “For personal contribution to the development of cinema.”
- Prize “Golden Eagle” for Best Actor in 2006 (“The State Counselor”).
- Full Cavalier of the Order of the Legion of Honor (1992)
- Commander of the Legion of Honor (gold star with emeralds and a ribbon around the neck) “For the contribution to world culture” (1994, France)
- awarded the Order “For Services to the Fatherland” III degree (1995)
- Order of St. Sergius I degree of the Russian Orthodox Church (1997).
- Akira Pristoupa prize of $ 50,000 dollars in the 21 th International Film Festival in Tokyo.
- He was awarded the Order “For Services to the Fatherland” IV degree (Presidential Decree number 1278 of 21.10.2010 )