Fiennes was awarded the most prestigious prize the festival has to offer, the Special Prize for Outstanding Achievement in the Career of Acting and Devotion to the Principles of the Stanislavsky School, which was awarded to the actor/director by MIFF helmer Nikita Mikhalkov.

Latvian director Dāvis Sīmanis, whose film The Mover / Tevs Nakts produced by Mistrus Media screened in the main competition, was in Moscow to present the film. Set in Riga against the backdrop of WWII, the film is about a Latvian worker who shelters Jews during the German occupation. Sīmanis told FNE "The film is really about our times as much as the past because it asks a relevant question whether we would have the courage today to take such a decision. Thankfully we are not being tested in these times but when we look at the courage the hero showed, we have to ask ourselves if in similar circumstances we would do the same."

MIFF took place from 8-25 April making it look like the move from its traditional June slot to April is now a permanent fixture on the festival calendar. Korean director Kim Di-Duk helmed the jury.

Prize Winners:

Golden George for Best Film
The Secret of a Leader (Kazakhstan)
Directed by Farkhat Sharipov

Special Jury Prize Silver George
In Search of Echo / Haiyang Dongwu (China)
Directed by Zhang Chi

Best Director
Ride Laughing (Italy)
Directed by Valerio Mastandrea

Best Actor
Tommi Korpela for his role in Void / Tyhlo (Finland)
Directed by Aleksi Salmenperä

Best Actress
Soha Niasti for her role in My Second Year in College / Sale – E Dovvome-E Danehkadeh-ye Man (Iran)
Directed by Rasoul Sadrameli

Best Documentary
Men’s Room (Norway)
Directed by Petter Sommer and Jo Vemund

Best Short Film
Tigre (France)
Directed by Delphine Deloget

Special Prize for Outstanding Contribution to World Cinema
Kim Kiduk (Korea)

Special Prize for Outstanding Achievement in the Career of Acting and Devotion to the Principles of the Stanislavsky School
Ralph Fiennes