Nikita Mikhalkov facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nikita Mikhalkov
Никита Михалков
Mikhalkov in 2022
Born	Nikita Sergeyevich Mikhalkov (1945-10-21) 21 October 1945 (age 79) Moscow, Soviet Union
Occupation	Film director screenwriter actor producer
Years active	1959–present
Spouse(s)	Anastasiya Vertinskaya ​ (m. 1966⁠–⁠1971)​ Tatiana Mikhalkova ​ ​ (m. 1973)​
Children	4, including Anna and Nadezhda
Parent(s)	Sergey Mikhalkov (father)
Relatives	Andrei Konchalovsky (brother)

Nikita Sergeyevich Mikhalkov (Russian: Никита Сергеевич Михалков; born 21 October 1945) is a famous Russian filmmaker, actor, and the head of the Russian Cinematographers' Union. He has won many important awards for his films, including the State Prize of the Russian Federation three times. He is also a Full Cavalier of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", which is a high honor in Russia.

Nikita Mikhalkov won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1991 for his film Close to Eden. This film was also nominated for an Academy Award (often called an Oscar) for Best International Feature Film. He later won an Academy Award in 1995 for Best Foreign Language Film with his movie Burnt by the Sun. This film also won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994. In 2007, he received a special "Lion" award at the Venice Film Festival for his great work in cinema. His film 12 (2007) was also nominated for an Academy Award.

Filmmaking Journey

Starting as an Actor

Mikhalkov began his journey in film by studying acting. He attended a children's studio at the Moscow Art Theatre. Later, he went to the Shchukin School. While he was still a student, he acted in films like Walking the Streets of Moscow (1964). He also appeared in his brother Andrei Konchalovsky's film Home of the Gentry (1969). Soon, he became a well-known actor in Soviet movies and plays.

Becoming a Director

Even as he continued acting, Mikhalkov decided to study directing. He went to VGIK, a state film school in Moscow. There, he learned from the famous filmmaker Mikhail Romm. His first short film was I'm Coming Home in 1968. He made another short film, A Quiet Day at the End of the War, for his graduation in 1970.

Before directing his first full-length movie, Mikhalkov acted in over 20 films. This included his brother's film Uncle Vanya (1972). In 1974, he co-wrote, directed, and starred in his first feature film, At Home Among Strangers. This movie was a Western-style film set right after the 1920s civil war in Russia.

Mikhalkov became known around the world with his second film, A Slave of Love (1976). This movie is set in 1917 and shows a film crew trying to make a silent movie. All this happens while the Revolution is happening around them. The film was very popular in the U.S.

His next film, An Unfinished Piece for Mechanical Piano (1977), was based on an early play by Chekhov. It won the top prize at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. In 1978, Mikhalkov made Five Evenings, a love story about a couple who meet again after being separated by World War II.

Another notable film was A Few Days from the Life of I. I. Oblomov (1980). It is based on a classic novel about a lazy young nobleman. Family Relations (1981) is a comedy about a woman from a small town dealing with her relatives in Moscow. Without Witness (1983) shows a long conversation between a woman and her ex-husband. This film won an award at the 13th Moscow International Film Festival.

In the early 1980s, Mikhalkov also acted in popular films by other directors. These included Station for Two (1982) and A Cruel Romance (1984). He also played Henry Baskerville in the Soviet movie version of The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Global Recognition

Mikhalkov at the 44th Venice International Film Festival

The film Dark Eyes (1987) combined several short stories by Chekhov. It starred Marcello Mastroianni as an old man who remembers a past romance. The film was highly praised. Mastroianni won the Best Actor Prize at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award.

Mikhalkov's film Urga (1992), also known as Close to Eden, was set in the world of the Mongols. It won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Mikhalkov's film Anna: 6–18 (1993) shows his daughter Anna growing up.

His most famous film is Burnt by the Sun (1994). This movie showed the scary time of Joseph Stalin's Great Terror. The film won the Grand Prize at Cannes. It also won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Burnt by the Sun has earned the most money of any film from the former Soviet Union.

In 1996, he was the head of the jury at the 46th Berlin International Film Festival.

Later Career

Mikhalkov and his daughter Nadezhda at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival

After the success of Burnt by the Sun, Mikhalkov made The Barber of Siberia (1998). This was a very big movie project. It was shown at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. The film was made to be a patriotic show for people in Russia. It starred Julia Ormond and Oleg Menshikov, who often appears in Mikhalkov's films. Mikhalkov himself played Tsar Alexander III of Russia.

The film won the Russian State Prize. Mikhalkov then became involved in leading the Russian film industry. He was chosen as the President of the Russian Society of Cinematographers. He has also managed the Moscow Film Festival since 2000. He created the Russian Academy Golden Eagle Award.

In 2005, Mikhalkov started acting again. He starred in three new movies: The Councillor of State, Dead Man's Bluff, and Persona non grata.

In 2007, Mikhalkov directed and starred in 12. This film was a Russian version of the court drama 12 Angry Men. In September 2007, 12 received a special Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival. In 2008, 12 was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 80th Academy Awards.

He also helped produce the epic film 1612.

Mikhalkov showed his film Burnt by the Sun 2 at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. This film was also chosen as Russia's entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film in 2011.

Personal Life

Mikhalkov's first wife was the famous Russian actress Anastasiya Vertinskaya. They married in 1967 and had a son, Stepan.

With his second wife, Tatiana, he had a son, Artyom, and two daughters, Anna and Nadya.

Public Activities

Mikhalkov with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on the set of the movie Burnt by the Sun 2 in Leningrad Oblast on 13 May 2008

Mikhalkov is also active in Russian politics. He is known for his views that support Russian national identity and traditional Russian culture. He has supported Russian president Vladimir Putin. In October 2007, Mikhalkov co-signed a letter asking Putin to stay in office.

In 2015, Mikhalkov was not allowed to enter Ukraine for 5 years. This was because he supported Russia's actions in Crimea in 2014. However, he also asked for the release of Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, who was imprisoned.

In February 2022, he supported Russia's actions in Ukraine. He criticized Russian cultural figures who were against these actions. In December 2022, the EU placed sanctions on Mikhalkov. In January 2023, Ukraine also placed sanctions on him.

Awards and Honors

President Vladimir Putin awards the 1st Degree Order of Merit for the Fatherland to Mikhalkov, 10 December 2015.

• Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation (2020)
• Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1976)
• People's Artist of the RSFSR (1984)
• Order "For Merit to the Fatherland";
  • 1st class (2015)
  • 2nd class (2005)
  • 3rd class (1995)
  • 4th class (2010)
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2004)
• Commander of the Legion of Honour (1994), previously Officer (1992)
• Order of St. Sergius, 1st class (Russian Orthodox Church)
• Honorary Member of Russian Academy of Arts
• Lenin Komsomol Prize (1978)
• State Prize of the Russian Federation (1993, 1995 and 1999)

Filmography

As Director

As Actor (selected) – (with director)

See also

In Spanish: Nikita Mijalkov para niños