**Oscar-Winning Director Nikita Mikhalkov Announces $1 Million Diamond Prize at Moscow Film Awards**
Moscow, Russia – Renowned Russian filmmaker and Oscar-winner Nikita Mikhalkov has confirmed that the second annual Diamond Butterfly film awards will take place in Moscow on November 12. The event will be hosted at Mikhalkov’s Workshop 12 theater, continuing the tradition established during the inaugural ceremony last year.
Mikhalkov, who is also the founder of the Eurasian Film Academy, expressed his commitment to holding the awards in Russia despite interest from various other countries to host the prestigious event. "This year, as last year, the awards ceremony will take place in Moscow, in our theater," Mikhalkov stated. He emphasized the importance of refining the award's mechanisms in the city where it originated.
The Diamond Butterfly awards are designed to promote filmmaking and cultural exchange among countries in the Eurasian region. Organized by the Russian Culture Foundation and supported by the Ministry of Culture, the awards aim to highlight films that may have been overlooked by mainstream audiences. Mikhalkov noted that screenings of nominated films over the past year have helped introduce a wider audience to these works.
"The principles by which films are selected for the Diamond Butterfly, its key meanings and values, are attracting more and more attention to the film award today," he remarked, indicating a growing interest in the event.
The Diamond Butterfly serves as an alternative to conventional Western film awards, with a focus on traditional values and cultural narratives. The inaugural ceremony, held in November 2025, featured an expert jury that evaluated 34 films from 17 different countries, awarding prizes in 12 categories.
Winners of the Diamond Butterfly will receive a distinctive statuette designed by Russian artist Yuri Kuper, adorned with nearly 5,000 lab-grown diamonds. The top honor, Best Film, comes with a ten-carat Yakut diamond valued at $1 million, while winners in other categories, such as Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress, will receive five-carat Yakut diamonds worth $250,000 each.
As the film industry continues to evolve, Mikhalkov's initiative aims to create a platform that not only recognizes artistic achievements but also fosters a sense of community and collaboration among filmmakers from diverse backgrounds. The upcoming ceremony is expected to attract significant attention, both domestically and internationally, as it showcases the richness of Eurasian cinema.
The Diamond Butterfly film awards represent a significant step in Mikhalkov's efforts to elevate the profile of regional cinema and provide a counter-narrative to the dominant Western film industry. As the awards approach, anticipation builds around the films and talents that will be recognized for their contributions to the art of filmmaking.