RAFA CEO
Irina Mastusova

Graduated from the Theoretical Composition Faculty of the Leningrad State Conservatory with a degree in musicology, teacher, lecturer. Graduated from the Moscow International School of Translators, the School of Cultural Policy and Cultural Managers at the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation, the Higher School of Socio-Economic Sciences, Master of arts (Political science) The University of Manchester, United Kingdom, Graduate school of the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Sector of Philosophy of Politics and Law.Work experience: Extensive experience in organizational and managerial activities, working with socially significant and non-commercial projects, projects in the field of culture and art. Since its foundation (since 2003), she has worked in the team of the largest Russian animation project “Kikoriki”. Since 2008, he has been the General Director of the National Children’s Fund for Support of Initiatives in the Field of Family and Childhood, and since 2012, RAFA CEO.

Member of the Public Council of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

Member of the Expert Council of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation for the selection of projects submitted by cinematography organizations applying for state support in the form of subsidies for the production of national films.

Member of the Expert Council of the Cinema Foundation.

Member of the Expert Council of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives.

Member of ROSKINO Industrial Council.

Member of the Expert Council of the Moscow Creative Industries Agency.

Member of the Expert Council of the Russian Export Center.

Member of the Expert Council of the Moscow Expert Center.

Member of the Supervisory Board of the National Open Championship of Creative Competencies Art Masters.

Member of the Board of Trustees of the Regional Cinema Support Fund.

Member of the Expert Commission The Russian society “Znanie”.

Member of the Council for Professional Qualifications in the Field of Culture .

Member of the Working Group of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation on import substitution in the cultural sector.

President
Ilya Popov

Education:

Graduated from the University of Technology and Design with a degree in Interior Design and the Modern University of the Humanities with a degree in Enterprise Management.

Work experience: In 1998, Popov created and headed the St. Petersburg Center for Advanced Research. In 2000, he founded the Fun Game publishing house, which was engaged in the development of gaming and educational products for children. Since 2003, Ilya Popov has become the main investor and general producer of the first super successful modern Russian animation project “Kikoriki” and the Computer Animation Studio “Petersburg”. In 2004, he organized the first Russian multi-brand agency for the management of licensed rights, Marmalade Media. In 2007, he was one of the founders and the main patron of the National Children’s Fund, a public organization that implements comprehensive programs in the field of support and development of children’s creativity. In 2009, he became a co-producer and the main investor of the ‘Fixies’ project, one of the most successful and fastest-growing Russian animation projects. In 2010, he consolidated all his assets into the Riki Group of companies.In 2012, Ilya Popov became one of the initiators of the creation and president of RAFA.In 2020, Ilya Popov acquired a controlling stake and consolidated 100% of the shares of Aeroplan Group of Companies (‘Fixies’ brand). In the same year, he transferred from the position of general producer to the post of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Riki Group.Today Ilya Popov is engaged in the strategic development of the Riki group of companies, and also continues to participate in the creative development of new animation projects.

Ilya is a laureate of various Russian and international prizes, including the State Prize of the Russian Federation.

Member of expert councils and working groups in legislative and executive authorities.

Member of the Government Council for the Development of Russian Cinematography.

Member of the Board of the Non-profit organization “Association of Enterprises of the children’s goods industry”.

Member of the Board of Trustees of the All-Russian State University of Cinematography named after S. A. Gerasimov (VGIK).

Member of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmy).

Member of the Board of Trustees of the St. Petersburg State Institute of Film and Television.

Chairman of the Management Board
Juliana Slashcheva

Chairman of the SMF Studio Board of Directors
The General Director of the Film Studio named after Gorky

Education:

Graduated from the Moscow Humanitarian and Social Academy (now Moscow University of the Humanities), Faculty of Marketing, specialization “economics, marketing, PR”

Work experience:

In her first years of study, she began working for the American company Quasar Communications. In 1994, she became an employee of the young PR agency Mikhailov and Partners. In 2002-2004, Juliana Slashcheva headed the Corporate Communications Department of ESN Group. In 2004, she became a partner and consultant of the BBDO Group, organized a PR agency as part of the group. In 2005, she returned to the Mikhailov & Partners agency as president of the company. She conducted more than 200 communication campaigns there, and three of her projects were awarded the national Silver Archer Award. In 2013-2016, as CEO of CTC Media, Juliana Slashcheva solved the tasks of strengthening communication with investors and advertisers, and diversifying the holding’s business. In February 2017, by order of the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, she was appointed Chairman of the Board of SMF Studio. In October 2019, she was appointed General Director of the Gorky Film Studio.

She has received many professional awards. In particular, it is annually noted in the ranking of top managers of Kommersant Publishing House in the category “Media Business”. In 2015, she was included in The Hollywood Reporter magazine’s 20 Most Powerful Women in Global TV 2015.

In 2020, she received the Grand Prix of the Media Manager of Russia 2020 Award.
Since 2018, he has been a member of the Board of the Federal Fund for Social and Economic Support of Russian Cinematography, as well as the Board of Directors of Roskino.

Honorary Member of the Board of the Association

Andrey Hrzhanovsky

Director, writer, producer, tutor. 

Member of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts “Nika”.
Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.

Winner of numerous Russian and international festivals, winner of the NIKA Awards (1995 — “The Lion with the Gray Beard” (“For the best animated film”); 2003 – “One and a half cats” (“For the best animated film”); 2009 — “One and a half rooms or a sentimental journey home” (“For the best feature film”, “For the best director” to Andrey Khrzhanovsky; “For the best screenplay” to Yuri Arabov and Andrey Khrzhanovsky)
In 1993, together with Eduard Nazarov, Yuri Norstein and Fyodor Khitruk, with the support of the State Cinema Committee of Russia, he founded the SHAR Animation Film School in Moscow for the production of cartoons and the training of professional directors and animation artists, where he holds the positions of artistic director, chairman of the Board of Founders and a teacher of directing.

He teaches at VGIK, Head of the Department of Animation Film Directing.