Acknowledged Honors Granted to Operators Based on Achievements
Taking the Spotlight at the "White Square" awards, the coveted title for Best Cinematographer of the Year went to Maxim Zhukov for his outstanding work on the movie "Master and Margarita". This marks his second win this year, having picked up a "Nika" for "Best Cinematography" earlier. The jury's verdict was unanimous[2]. In an interview, Maxim shared, "My aim was to make the cinematography as subtle as possible, encouraging the audience to be least distracted and concentrate on the emotions the film's characters stir up."
Hailing from the Cinematography department of VGIK, Maxim Zhukov graduated in 2009, under the guidance of Sergei Medynsky and Yuri Nevsky. This is his third win at the "White Square" awards. His earlier victories were in 2021 for "Sputnik" and 2022 for "Major Grom: Deadly Doctor". Some of his notable works include "Gogol: Portrait of a Mysterious Genius" (2008), "Sashka Zhiv" (2011), "Grom: Difficult Childhood" (2023), and "Major Grom: Game" (2024)[2].
The film "Master and Margarita", directed by Mikhail Lokshin, based on Mikhail Bulgakov's novel, was released in Russian cinemas on January 25, 2024, and grossed over 1 billion rubles in its first two weeks[3]. The total box office collection surpassed 2 billion rubles, smashing records for Russian films in the "18+" category. The lead roles were essayed by Yevgeny Tsyganov and Yulia Snigir, each winning a "Nika" for "Best Actor" and "Best Actress" respectively[3]. In total, "Master and Margarita" took home 7 "Nika" awards, including "Best Sound Work", "Best Art Direction", and "Best Costume Design".
In a different corner, the award for Best Cinematography in a Series went to Ilya Averbach for "Prometheus". This was his first accolade at the "White Square" Awards[4]. Among other projects he's worked on are "257 Reasons to Live" (2020), "Container" (2021), and "Volunteer's Playlist" (2022), all under the direction of Maxim Sveshnikov. "Prometheus", a series about the search for a lost plane, is the fourth collaboration between Maxim Sveshnikov and Ilya Averbach[4]. Other cinematographers nominated in this category were Gleb Mikhailov ("Rough Times"), Dmitry Karnachuk ("Children of the New Era"), and Batiyr Morgachev ("Highway").
White Square's prize for contributions to cinematography was earned by Yuri Shaygardanov. Speaking at the ceremony, film director, screenwriter, actor, and dramatist Andrei Smirnov described the laureate as "a rare director who hasn't been captured on camera by operator Shaygardanov. He has worked with living classics like Heifetz, Bortko, Todorovsky, Rogozhkin, and Aranovich, and his light always enhances the visuals, capturing beautiful women and close-ups just right[5]. Beyond his talent, Shaygardanov is also a fantastic drinking companion for the director in the evening."
Shaygardanov was honored with the "Operator Recognition" award for technological advancements and significant contributions to operator shooting techniques. The award was presented to Sergei Pavlov, head of BLACKLINE company, optical designer, and cinematographer, by Andrei Gurkin, founder of XOVP virtual production studio[5]. Gurkin praised Pavlov's craftsmanship and impact on the industry: "What Sergei accomplishes with his optics, there's a soul to it. It's a living operator's tool because it's handmade – by Sergei, by his father. Sergei and I are classmates, and I can say that he has dedicated his entire conscious life to optics. His optics have saved many careers[5]. For more updates, stay tuned to our Telegram channel @expert_mag.
[1] "Maxim Zhukov: A Cinematographer Captivating Audience and Capturing Awards", Expert Magazine, 8 June 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.expert.mag/maxim-zhukov-captivating-audience-and-capture-awards/
[2] "A Closer Look at the Life and Work of Maxim Zhukov", Expert Magazine, 10 June 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.expert.mag/insights-into-maxim-zhukovs-life-and-work/
[3] "Master and Margarita: A Cinematic Masterpiece Stuns Audiences", Expert Magazine, 14 June 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.expert.mag/master-and-margarita-cinematic-masterpiece/
[4] "Ilya Averbach: The Emerging Talent Blazing Trails in Cinematography", Expert Magazine, 17 June 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.expert.mag/ilya-averbach-emerging-talent-cinematography/
[5] "Recognizing the Iconic Works of Yuri Shaygardanov", Expert Magazine, 21 June 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.expert.mag/yuri-shaygardanov-honored-for-iconic-works/
- Maxim Zhukov, the recipient of the 'Best Cinematographer of the Year' award at the "White Square" in 2023, graduated from VGIK's Cinematography department in 2009.
- In addition to his recent win at the "White Square" awards for 'Master and Margarita', Zhukov also earned a 'Nika' for 'Best Cinematography' for "Sputnik" in 2021.
- Ilya Averbach, who won the award for Best Cinematography in a Series ('Prometheus') at the same "White Square" awards in 2023, is known for his work on projects like "257 Reasons to Live" (2020), directed by Maxim Sveshnikov.
- Yuri Shaygardanov was honored with the White Square prize for contributions to cinematography in 2023, recognized for his work with directors like Heifetz, Bortko, Todorovsky, Rogozhkin, and Aranovich.
