In a dazzling ceremony held at the Mask Theater in Moscow, the 38th Nika Film Awards celebrated the best in Russian cinema on March 24, 2025. The gala resulted in impressive recognitions for films and actors who made significant contributions to the cinematic landscape over the past year.
This year, the evening’s highlight was undoubtedly Yuliya Snigir's triumphant victory in the Best Actress category for her moving portrayal of Margarita in the adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's revered novel, Master and Margarita. In her acceptance speech, Snigir dedicated her award to the late actress Evgenia Dobrovolskaya, whom she credited for always supporting her career. “Zhenya Dobrovolskaya always rejoiced sincerely for me, always wrote and congratulated me,” Snigir shared. “We discussed the role of Margarita because when I prepared for it, we shot together in the film Time of the Year.” Despite her personal victory, Snigir unexpectedly chose to pass the physical trophy to fellow actress Marianna Shultz, who played a significant role in the movie Era. The actress praised Shultz's work as incredible, stating, “I still have so much more to grow.”
Master and Margarita not only won Snigir her accolade but also snagged the title of Best Feature Film, along with six additional awards, sweeping the event's seven categories it was nominated for. The film’s production team and cast received accolades for outstanding achievements across art direction, costume design, sound, cinematography, and more.
Evgeniy Tsyganov, Snigir’s husband, also made headlines by sharing the Best Actor award with Yura Borisov for their roles in different films. Tsyganov secured the accolade for his performance as Woland in Master and Margarita, while Borisov was recognized for his role in The Summer Is Over. Their joint recognition for the night certainly added an affectionate twist to the awards.
The ceremony also acknowledged other outstanding talents in the film industry, with Bakur Bakuradze claiming the Best Director award for Snow in My Yard. Ivan Lebedev was celebrated for his excellence in editing, winning for his work on The Summer Is Over. Musical composition found its champion in Alexey Rybnikov, who took home the award for Best Music for his score in 9 Seconds.
The Nika awards made notable posthumous recognitions as well: Evgenia Dobrovolskaya, who passed away on January 10, 2025, was honored as Best Supporting Actress for her role in Worse Than Everyone, while Roman Madianov received a similar recognition for his performance in Love of the Soviet Union, after his tragic passing in September 2024.
In an unprecedented move, the academy introduced a new category for Best Series, which went to the project Plevako, directed by Anna Matison and featuring Sergey Bezrukov. Malyshev’s achievements were acknowledged with a special award for his contributions to film education and criticism as the rector of VGIK.
The Nika awards continue to embody the vibrant spirit of Russian cinema, shedding light on both new talents and established artists, while also creating memorable moments, such as Snigir's heartfelt tribute and the unexpected sharing of accolades between acting couples like Tsyganov and Snigir.
In reflecting on the ceremony, Andrey Konchalovsky, the President of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts, maintains that such recognition is vital for inspiring future filmmakers and preserving the legacy of cinematic arts in Russia.
