The 48th Moscow International Film Festival came to a close in the Russian capital on April 23, 2026.

Three Asian films emerged as the main winners.

The top prize for Best Film went to "Passion" (DESIRE, ഇഷ്ക്), directed by Indian filmmaker Fazil Razak. Indian actress Amrutha Krishnakumar, who played the lead role in the same film, also took home the award for Best Actress.

On the run from the law and with ulterior motives, Shanu draws Amala into his web – a woman grappling with inner demons and a deep psychological crisis. Beneath the film's vivid and sensual visuals soon emerges a harsh story of dependency. The heroine seems to come from another world – detached, lost, wary, having lived an extremely difficult life. Shanu quickly recognises another’s pain, but sees in it not a reason for genuine human connection, but a convenient opportunity to make money. As the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that from the very start the heroine is on an unequal footing: she is not in control of her situation, but merely pays for decisions made by others.

The Best Short Film award went to "정동 Nowhere, Somewhere" (지금도 없는 어딘가) by South Korean director Ahn Hye‑rin.

After her father's sudden death, Park Lim, a Korean woman from China, travels to Korea to be with her mother. She tries to prove to herself and to others that she does not deserve the label of an "irresponsible foreigner". When a job offer arrives from China, she hesitates. Her mother objects, and their differing views on social prejudice spark a conflict. The film addresses issues of diaspora and prejudice. Running time: 20 minutes.

Director Ahn Hye‑rin commented on her film "정동 Nowhere, Somewhere":

"This is my graduation project from my master’s program, and to be selected for the Moscow International Film Festival with it is a great honour for me. There is a lot of autobiography in this film, as I myself am a Korean-Chinese, and it shows my first trip to Korea and the attitude I encountered there. I wanted to show that the current generation of Korean-Chinese is markedly different from the past, when they were mostly people with only a secondary education – or none at all – and were often looked down upon."

The Best Documentary award went to Chinese director Zheng Xusong's film "A Long Way Home" (A Long Way Home, 劳途归巢).

Shot over the course of four years, the film tells the story of young people returning to their hometowns. The main protagonist is Pan Zhaode, a single father and resident of Henghe Village, located in Baisha Town, Jiangjin District (Chongqing). He has come back from the big city to his hometown to work at a local distillery and care for his ailing parents and young daughters. The film focuses on his daily life and the harsh realities he faces.

Pan Zhaode is not just a character but a composite portrait of a modern Chinese worker. He is the sole provider for his family. His wife has left him, and Pan Zhaode is raising two young daughters on his own. One of them is adopted. His elderly father is bedridden with oesophageal cancer. The local factory where he works is under threat of closure. The film does not gloss over reality but presents real problems and losses. The filmmakers adhere to the philosophy that "life itself is the best testimony". The idea of home and returning is central to the film. The filmmakers emphasise that home is not only a physical shelter but also an emotional centre that gives a person the strength to carry on, despite all of life's adversities.

The remaining prizes were distributed as follows:

Best Director — Anton Bilzho, "Vygotsky"
Best Actor — Sergey Gilyov, "Vygotsky"
Special Jury Prize — " La deuda", directed by Dani Guzmán (Spain, Romania)
Best Film in the "Russian Premieres" competition — "The Temperature of the Universe", directed by Viktor Shamirov
Special Mention in the Documentary Competition jury — "Mashen'ka", directed by Valeriya Gai‑Germanika
Audience Award — "Father", directed by Pavel Ivanov

The Lifetime Achievement Award was not presented. It had previously been announced that director Alexander Sokurov would receive it at the closing ceremony.

Sources