Another Russian movie, the “Miracle,” also received a special prize from the jury.

Kirill Razlogov, director of the festival and a movie critic, offered RT some insight on Russia’s entries this year.

“The third Russian movie in the competition won the award for best actor,” Razlogov said. “This movie is ‘Ward No. 6’, a famous Chekhov’s story, modernized. And Vladimir Ilyin, who is one of the best Russian actors ever, was awarded the prize for best actor.”

Regarding the impact that the global economic crisis has had on Russia’s moviemakers, Razlogov added:

“The production in Russia will go on, but difficulties, of course, will be serious,” he said. “The state is prepared to invest a lot of money into the films it is interested in. But on the other hand, the amount of money given to experimental films will diminish. The private investors who have left the film production, I don’t think they will be back. So, that’s the main problem.”

The St. George Award for best director went to a Mexican woman, Mariana Chenillo, for the movie “Five Days Without Nora.” The movie is telling a story of a middle-aged man who is trying to cope with the death of his wife.

Despite the diversity of themes presented at the festival, critics point out that gloom featured in many of the movies.

“The gloom is something general,” Razlogov noted. “The Cannes Film Festival was much gloomier than the Moscow one.”

“We tried to compete, but have not succeeded,” he joked.

“I think it is a general trend in festivals, but in the theater people prefer something more optimistic,” he concluded.

Apart from the main competition, the festival also held a “prospective competition” featuring works by young directors, including debut films.

In that category, this year’s award went to a Georgian director for his work the “Conflict Zone,” which is about the Georgian-Ossetian conflict over the last decade.

The jury’s decision to award a renowned Georgian actor, Rezo Chkheidze, for his contribution to the art of cinematography became another tribute to Georgian cinematography and the love that Russian people have with it since Soviet times.

After the closing ceremony, the audience will enjoy a screening of the much-anticipated film “Public Enemies” by Michael Mann and starring Johnny Depp.

Mann, who is attending the festival, has a special connection to Russia himself: his father is of Russian descent.

“Moscow, the festival – everything is great,” Mann told RT. “Everyone here couldn’t be more helpful.”