Read cinema, not just watch: Maria Lemesheva celebrates her birthday

      On August 14, Maria Lemesheva, editorial director and chief editor of the leading glossy publication about cinema in Russia, receives congratulations. This year, her personal holiday coincides with an important professional milestone: the publication, which began its journey as the Russian version of The Hollywood Reporter, turns 15 years old. During this time, the media has transitioned from an international licensed project to an independent Russian project and has become one of the constant participants in the professional life of the industry.

      Over a decade and a half, the Russian film market has experienced several epoch-making changes—from the transformation of the film distribution system and the growth of domestic production to the emergence of new platforms and changes in audience habits. Under Maria Lemesheva's leadership, KinoReporter has evolved alongside the industry, and in 2018, it finally transitioned to its own brand and new positioning. Today, the magazine focuses on Russian and Eurasian cinema, telling stories about the films, people, and processes that shape the industry.

      "We strive to show all sides of the film industry as truthfully as possible, without getting distracted by glossy superficiality," notes Maria Lemesheva. "It is important for us to reveal the essence of the profession: to talk about the painstaking work behind the scenes, the challenges faced by filmmakers, and industry trends. This approach has become one of the principles of our editorial work: to speak the same language as professionals and audiences. In August, I have two important celebrations—Russian Cinema Day and my birthday. In a sense, they resonate: one is about the common cause to which I dedicate myself, the other is about my personal journey in the industry. For me, these are not just dates on the calendar, but a reason to reflect once again on how valuable each frame, each story, and each person who creates them is."

      Maria Lemesheva's professional career began long before KinoReporter. She worked in television, was a correspondent and host, and created documentary projects about culture and domestic cinema.

      Today, Maria Lemesheva is a film academic, a member of the Expert Council of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, and the Union of Cinematographers of Russia. She regularly serves as an expert in the field of cinema and participates in major international professional events: in 2025, she became a member of the jury for the 45th International Student Festival "VGIK-Debut" and the Eurasian film award "Diamond Butterfly."

      Over the years, KinoReporter under her leadership has become not just a magazine, but a full-fledged professional platform. The publication annually releases a collectible almanac featuring its best shoots and materials, as well as presenting two of its own awards.

      The "Event of the Year" film award recognizes the main achievements in the field of cinema and television. The magazine presents it for the brightest projects, films, series, and professional successes in the industry. Crystal stars are awarded to the best actors, directors, producers, and TV figures. Over the years, prominent industry representatives and state officials have attended the ceremony. For instance, the assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Medinsky, personally presented the award in the "Project of the Year" nomination (to the historical series "Stolypin"). Among the award winners were Konstantin Ernst, Sergey Bezrukov, Alla Sigalova, Fyodor Bondarchuk, Sergey Shakurov, Yulia Peresild, Alexander Adabashyan, Sergey Puskepalis, Victoria Isakova, Alexey Rybinikov, Eduard Artemyev, Irina Kurchenko, Daniil Vorobyov, Yura Borisov, Yulia Snigir, Pavel Derevyanko, Anton Zlatopolsky, Victoria Tolstoganova, Andrei Konchalovsky, Maxim Matveev, Anna Chipovskaya, Evgeny Mironov, Andrei Merzlikin, Svetlana Ivanova, Nikita Kologrivyy, Alexander Petrov, Marina Aleksandrova, Alexander Veledinsky, Yuri Kolokolnikov, Stasya Miloslavskaya, Philip and Ivan Yankovsky, and many others.

      The "Advance" film award recognizes already established young actors and directors, helping to draw attention to those whom the professional community believes represent the future of Russian cinema. Award winners in different years have included Milos Bikovic, Irina Starshenbaum, Roman Kurtsyn, Angelina Strechina, Tikhon Zhiznevsky, Elizaveta Ishchenko, Mark Eidelshtein, Anna Peresild, Vladislav Miller, Alyona Dolgolenko, Sergey Gorodnichy, Taisiya Kalinina, Alexey Onezhen, and other artists.

      On August 14, colleagues and representatives of the film industry congratulate Maria Lemesheva on her birthday and wish her new professional discoveries, loud projects, and many more years at the center of Russian cinema.

      Information Note

      KinoReporter magazine is the first glossy domestic magazine about cinema, focused on promoting Russian culture. KinoReporter pays significant attention to television content, as well as the theatrical and musical industries.

      The publication introduces readers to the work of professionals from the Eurasian space, collaborates with the foreign film community, and the largest foreign publications from friendly countries.

      KinoReporter tells audiences in friendly states about Russian cinema, building cultural ties between countries: since 2015, Russian Cinema Days have been held in India, and since 2018, Russian Cinema Days have been held in Serbia.

      KinoReporter is also the founder of one of the iconic industry annual awards for achievements in cinema and television—the "Event of the Year."

      At the core of KinoReporter’s mission is comprehensive support for emerging talents and inspiring artists for future victories at the start of their careers: since 2012, the best young Russian actors have been awarded the "Advance" prize as part of the Moscow International Film Festival, of which KinoReporter has been an official partner for many years.

      Starting in 2024, the magazine will release a collectible book almanac, uniting the best materials from all years of existence—a tribute to domestic cinema and its heroes.

      https://kinoreporter.ru | https://t.me/KinoReporter | https://vk.com/kino_reporter

      https://t.me/maria_lemesheva