Documentary 'Black Sea' Wins Top Prize for its Story of Unity and Innovation After Kerch Strait Disaster
The documentary film 'Black Sea' has won the top prize at the Fund for the Support of Regional Cinematography of the Union of Cinematographers of Russia's (FPRK) 'Russia - A Look into the Future' competition. The film, directed by Elena Kabanova and Andrei Timoschenko, explores the aftermath of the 'Volgoneft' tanker disaster in the Kerch Strait, where around 9,000 tons of oil spilled, causing one fatality and several injuries. President Vladimir Putin described it as an 'ecological disaster', with about 40% of the oil leaking into the water.
'Black Sea' tells the story of volunteers and young scientists who stepped up to clean up the oil spill. Among them were engineer Vladimir Kalyaev from 'SKOLOK', who developed filtration systems, and young inventors Rustam Sabirov and Eduard Valeev from Perm, who created a centrifuge for sand filtration. These heroes, along with many others, are the main protagonists of the film, with the directors choosing to focus on their real-life roles rather than using actors.
Elena Kabanova, originally from the Krasnodar region, was inspired by the unity and support shown by people to help nature in the aftermath of the disaster. The film is a testament to their resilience and innovation in the face of adversity.
The documentary 'Black Sea' has been completed and has won the prestigious FPRK award. It serves as a reminder of the power of community and innovation in overcoming environmental challenges. The film is a poignant look into the future, highlighting the importance of collective action in preserving our natural world.
