Hidden Taiga Survivors Win Top Prize at Save and Preserve Festival

The Save and Preserve International Environmental Festival has wrapped up its 30th edition in Khanty-Mansiysk. Among this year’s winners was The Last Free Nomads, a documentary by Magadan filmmakers that claimed the top prize in the Ethnoecology: Nature and Indigenous Peoples category. The festival, organised by Yugoria—a branch of the VGTRK state broadcaster—drew 300 entries from 17 countries.

The winning film, The Last Free Nomads, tells the story of the Rassokha Eveny, a group who avoided Soviet collectivisation by living hidden in the Kolyma taiga for more than 25 years. Directed by Anastasia Yakubek and shot by cinematographer Rustam Akhmetov, the documentary was commissioned by the Magadan Regional Museum of Local Lore.

Before this latest honour, the film had already earned five awards. These include first place at the All-Russian Competition of Ethnocultural Exhibition Projects, *Virtual Tour of Multinational Russia*, and the *For the Good of the World* Prize for kindness and humanism in art, presented in Moscow. The festival itself has been running for three decades, supported by the government of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. This year’s edition continued its tradition of showcasing films and projects focused on environmental and cultural preservation.

With its victory at Save and Preserve, The Last Free Nomads adds another accolade to its growing list. The documentary’s success highlights the festival’s role in recognising works that explore the relationship between nature and indigenous communities. Organisers have confirmed the event will return for its 31st year.