Actors from BRICS+ countries have arrived for a fellowship at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts - GITIS as part of the InteRussia project, announced GITIS Rector Grigory Zaslavsky at a TASS press conference.
"This is a completely new experience for us. There was quite a serious selection process, slightly different from our usual acting faculty competition, but still almost 10 people per spot. There were over 80 applications. We selected 12 people," he said.
The Rector explained that while the institute had previously collaborated with various BRICS countries, this is the first time it's uniting actors from these countries in one project.
This is the first program for young actors developed within the InteRussia project by GITIS, at the suggestion and invitation of the Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Support Fund and the international media network TV BRICS, with support from the Presidential Grants Fund.
According to the institute's press service, actors aged 21 to 35 have arrived for the fellowship. Classes will continue until September 22, including training in acting, stage movement, and speech, as well as lectures on the history of Russian theater, Konstantin Stanislavsky's creative journey, and his system.
Victoria Karslieva, Deputy Director of the Gorchakov Fund, explained that InteRussia is a unique project developed in Russia. "This is a fellowship program that was launched in 2021," she said. According to Karslieva, fellowships are organized in various fields, with an emphasis on individual approach, hence the small group classes.
"The main idea of InteRussia is to showcase new technologies, brands, and products that exist in our country," added the Deputy Director. She mentioned that this time, representatives from six countries arrived for the program: Brazil, India, South Africa, Iran, China, and Argentina. These are graduates of theater schools, young actors, and cultural specialists who have enrolled in the acting faculty and are already working in theaters.
Zhanna Tolstikova, CEO of the international network TV BRICS, reported that information about the GITIS fellowship opportunity was distributed among over 50 million users and network partners. "Over 80 applications indicate that there is interest, and it will probably only grow," Tolstikova noted. "We view today's fellows as ambassadors of our pilot fellowship story for young theater and film artists, who will further promote Russian culture and the Russian theater school in their countries."
Source: TASS
The InteRussia fellowship for foreign specialists in theatrical arts is implemented by ANO "Mezhdunarodniky" in collaboration with the Gorchakov Fund and GITIS, with financial support from the Presidential Grants Fund.