Professor of SPUFT Konstantin Lopushansky Honoured with the Order of Merit for Services to Culture and the Arts

A decree awarding the director and professor of the Department of Film Directing at GIKIT, Konstantin Lopushansky, with the Order of Merit for Services to Culture and the Arts has been signed by President Vladimir Putin and published on the official legal information portal.

Konstantin Lopushansky, Professor of Film Directing at GIKIT, has been conferred with the Order of Merit for Services to Culture and the Arts. Renowned for his remarkable films such as Letters of a Dead Man, Russian Symphony, and the science fiction drama The Ugly Swans—based on the eponymous novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky—the latter of which garnered recognition at major European festivals in 2007, Lopushansky’s artistic achievements continue to resonate within the cinematic world.

It is worth noting that early in his career, the director had the privilege of working as an assistant director on the set of Andrei Tarkovsky's legendary Stalker.

Professor Lopushansky has been a part of our university since 2003, where he has mentored many successful young filmmakers. Notably, last year saw the premiere of the debut feature films from his graduates: the youth drama Lapin, directed by Asya Oleshkevich and Vlad Krasnoslobodtsev, and the drama 110, directed by Ilya Mikheev, both of which were showcased in cinemas across the country.

Both of these projects recently secured full state funding after a successful pitching session at the Ministry of Culture.

Currently, Konstantin Lopushansky serves as the head of the film directing course, and on 13 March, his second-year students will present their latest projects in an open screening.

Reflecting on the award, Professor Lopushansky expressed his surprise, stating that he had not anticipated such recognition. He believes that for artists, this kind of acknowledgment is vital as it affirms the value of their work within the broader cultural landscape.