“Prokhorov’s Legacy and New Names: Highlights from the Icarus 2026 Awards”

On April 6, 2026, the 12th Icarus National Animation Awards—one of the key events in the Russian animation industry—took place at the Sergei Obraztsov State Academic Central Puppet Theater. The ceremony was hosted by the award’s artistic director, animation historian and screenwriter Sergey Kapkov, alongside the legendary master of ceremonies Eduard Aplombov, a character from the famous stage production An Extraordinary Concert.

This year’s event celebrated the creative union of puppetry and animation, as well as the upcoming 90th anniversary of the Soyuzmultfilm studio.
The Icarus Awards traditionally honor outstanding professional achievements and contributions to the development of the animation industry. In 2026, a total of 142 submissions were received, with winners selected across 16 categories.

The awards were presented by prominent figures from the worlds of culture and cinema, including Irina Mastusova, Yuliana Slashcheva, Alla Surikova, Alexander Pal, Yefim Shifrin, and other notable industry representatives.

Special attention this year was given to the Anatoly Prokhorov Prize—one of the Icarus Awards—aimed at supporting emerging talent in animation. The debut award went to The 12th Day, directed by Polina Bovkun. The prize continues a tradition of discovering and supporting new voices, shaping the future of the industry while preserving the legacy closely associated with Prokhorov—one of the key producers and visionaries of contemporary Russian animation.

Among the winners were projects already recognized by the professional community. The Best Short Film award went to Alyoshenka, directed by Dmitry Geller, while the Best Feature Film prize was awarded to Out for Disposal by Konstantin Bronzit, who was also named Best Director. In television animation, the award went to the episode The Case of Empathyfrom the series The Adventures of Petya and the Wolf, produced by Soyuzmultfilm.

Young creators were also in the spotlight, including Asya Filippova’s project The Very Awkward Crocodile, which was recognized as Best Startup and Concept.
The awards also recognized achievements in key professional categories, including screenwriting, animation, sound, voice acting, and art direction. The honorary “Master” award was presented to Natalia Abramova for her significant contribution to the development of Russian animation.

The Icarus National Animation Awards were established in 2015 with the participation of the Open Russian International Festival of Animated Film, the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation, and the Russian Animated Film Association. Today, the awards are supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, as well as leading studios and companies in the industry, including Soyuzmultfilm, and remain one of the key platforms for recognizing professional excellence and fostering the development of animation in Russia.