26 Facts About Nikita Mikhalkov

Nikita Sergeyevich Mikhalkov is a Soviet and Russian filmmaker, actor, and head of the Russian Cinematographers' Union.

Nikita Mikhalkov won the Golden Lion of the Venice Film Festival and was nominated for the Academy Award in the category Best International Feature Film for the film Close to Eden.

Nikita Mikhalkov won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the Grand Prix of the Cannes Film Festival for the film Burnt by the Sun.

Nikita Mikhalkov received the "Special Lion" of the Venice Film Festival for his contribution to the cinematography and nominated for an Academy Award for the film 12.

Nikita Mikhalkov was born in Moscow into the distinguished, artistic Nikita Mikhalkov family.

Nikita Mikhalkov's great grandfather was the imperial governor of Yaroslavl, whose mother was a princess of the House of Golitsyn.

Nikita Mikhalkov studied acting at the children's studio of the Moscow Art Theatre and later at the Shchukin School of the Vakhtangov Theatre.

Nikita Mikhalkov was on his way to becoming a star of the Soviet stage and cinema.

Nikita Mikhalkov directed his first short film in 1968, I'm Coming Home, and another for his graduation, A Quiet Day at the End of the War in 1970.

Nikita Mikhalkov had appeared in more than 20 films, including his brother's Uncle Vanya, before he co-wrote, directed and starred in his first feature, At Home Among Strangers in 1974, an Ostern set just after the 1920s civil war in Russia.

Nikita Mikhalkov established an international reputation with his second feature, A Slave of Love.

In 1978, while starring in his brother's epic film Siberiade, Nikita Mikhalkov made Five Evenings, a love story about a couple separated by World War II, who meet again after eighteen years.

Nikita Mikhalkov starred in many of his own films, including At Home Among Strangers, A Slave of Love, and An Unfinished Piece for Player Piano.

Nikita Mikhalkov used the critical and financial triumph of Burnt by the Sun to raise $25 million for his most epic venture to date, The Barber of Siberia.

Nikita Mikhalkov set the Russian Academy Golden Eagle Award in opposition to the traditional Nika Award.

In 2007, Nikita Mikhalkov directed and starred in 12, a Russian adaptation of Sidney Lumet's court drama 12 Angry Men.

Nikita Mikhalkov served as the executive producer of an epic film 1612.

Nikita Mikhalkov presented his "epic drama" Burnt by the Sun 2 at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, but did not receive any awards.

Nikita Mikhalkov is known for his at times Russian nationalist and Slavophile views.

Nikita Mikhalkov was instrumental in propagating Ivan Ilyin's ideas in post-Soviet Russia.

Nikita Mikhalkov authored several articles about Ilyin and came up with the idea of transferring his remains from Switzerland to the Donskoy Monastery in Moscow, where the philosopher had dreamed to find his last retreat.

In October 2006, Nikita Mikhalkov visited Serbia, giving moral support to Serbia's sovereignty over Kosovo.

Nikita Mikhalkov has been a strong supporter of Russian president Vladimir Putin.

In October 2007, Nikita Mikhalkov, who produced a television program for Putin's 55th birthday, co-signed an open letter asking Putin not to step down after the expiry of his term in office.

In 2015, Nikita Mikhalkov was banned from entering Ukraine for 5 years because of his support for the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea.

Nikita Mikhalkov criticized those Russian cultural figures who oppose Russia's invasion, arguing that they were silent about the crimes against Donbas, and now, in his opinion, they are only saving their property abroad from sanctions and teaching their children there.