Established in 2008, the multifunctional recording studio, led by executive producer Victor Karzalov, has been a prominent player in the audiovisual service market. As part of a creative workshop complex, the studio boasts unique acoustics and monitoring capabilities, enabling them to handle diverse musical projects in cinema, advertising, digital content, gaming, and VR.
The studio collaborates with renowned artists, musicians, brands, and businesses that seek high-quality and aesthetically appealing music for their projects. Notable achievements include producing music for Polina Gagarina's advertising campaign for Askona sofas, which earned two nominations at the prestigious Effie Russia 2021 Awards. The studio's client list includes prominent companies such as Ingosstrakh insurance company, Chistaya Liniya, Kaspersky cybersecurity provider, Samsung, Svyaznoy handset retailer, "Wake Up" video clip for Adidas, and others.
Grafis produces interior paintings, reproductions, posters, and mirrors with frames, catering to a wide range of consumers. Their product line includes interior paintings with volumetric artistic decor, reproductions of paintings on paper, canvas, and acrylic glass, as well as handcrafted paintings made to individual orders, and framed mirrors. The diverse genres and a vast selection of subjects allow customers to find the perfect painting or poster to complement any interior design. They offer a variety of frames.
For their reproductions, Grafis draws inspiration from timeless classics and contemporary artists. The range includes flowers and landscapes, animal images, still life, genre scenes, abstract paintings, and playful subjects from from their own collection. These reproductions are versatile decorations suitable for offices, public spaces, and homes.
Alexander Shimanov is a Russian graphic designer from Nizhny Novgorod, working under alias Stan. He has been a designer since 1999, exploring letters in all their manifestations. He mostly does lettering, font design, brand identity, calligraphy, graffiti. One of Alexander’s biggest projects was the Urban Roots magazine that centers on street art and graffiti. He also acted as a designer for the Russian Olympic team, Spartak and Dynamo football clubs and Lonsdale clothing brand.
He also came up with a unique "Nizhny Novgorod" font, while experimenting with ancient decorative Cyrillic lettering called Vyaz. The font is a modern interpretation of this style of lettering and an attempt to adapt it to the challenges of our time.
Grechka Bread began its journey in the home kitchen of Victoria Sereda and Evgeny Baranov. All the recipes were born during their homemade bread-making process, under the supervision of a nutritionist, Vika. Due to medical recommendations, Evgeny needed to reduce gluten intake to lessen the strain on his immune system. It was then that Vika discovered a recipe for buckwheat bread and began experimenting, while Evgeny continued perfecting the baking process. Through this collaborative effort, a delightful outcome was achieved.
Grechka Bread manufactures bread, cakes, brownies, grissini, and slices made from green buckwheat, without gluten, yeast, flour, starch, or sugar. Each product boasts a meticulously refined recipe with unique ingredient compositions, production techniques, and flavors.
Anton Martsev is a local tour guide. He has a series of tours, Nedolgo Vechnye Aktsenty (Not Long/Term Accents), centered on the desire to rediscover Nizhny Novgorod, to look at familiar streets from a different perspective, to notice details you haven’t noticed before. Veduta Nizhegorodika, another tour guided by Anton, is an account of where famous artists lived and what they did in Nizhny Novgorod. His tours promote a different, alternative approach to sightseeing.
Anton also does special routes on request. Here’s how he put together the tour for the project Zapovednye Kvartaly (Historic Quarters). Detali Kvartala. Krupno (Details of the Quarter. Closely), yet another tour, highlights details that are usually overlooked — window frames, manhole covers, stamps on bricks.
Handsel is a manufacturer of genuine calf leather goods. Everything is hand-made, made with love and passion. Kirill Chernov is the founder of the company. From labor of love and very limited production, Kirill's company turned into an established, reputable brand. The team manufactures products individually for each customer, taking into account all his wishes. The company sells a wide range of products: bags, covers, laptop sleeves, document holders. Genuine leather products are sewn with waxed thread, known for its water-repellent properties and increased wear resistance. Personalized initials can be embroidered on the product. The initials are permanent, thanks to the special technique of sewing.
Handsel goods can also be found at the SLAVA designer clothing store in St. Petersburg. Each June, Handsel actively participates in the Moscow Fashion Week, where Russian fashion designers present their work.
Handy Bendy presents fabric bags designed under the "my second bag" concept, offering a sustainable alternative to paper and plastic bags, as well as traditional canvas shoppers. Each aspect of these bags is is well thought out to make it convenient to carry lunch, water bottles, umbrellas, books, laptops, spare shoes, or even enjoying a stroll with a child or grocery shopping. Constructed from sturdy water-repellent fabric, these bags are easy to clean.
Unlike conventional shoppers, Handy Bendy bags are very compact. Additionally, they come with a detachable longer handle for those who prefer to carry the bag over their shoulder, which can be attached when needed.
Haulout is a short documentary that takes a look at walruses and global warming, directed by brother and sister Maxim Arbugaev and Evgenia Arbugaeva. The 25-minute documentary tells a story of a biologist Maxim Chakilev, who comes to Chukotka every year and for several months observes the effects of climate change on the walrus population. The shooting, which lasted three months, took place in the scientist's real house.
It premiered in February 2022 at the Berlin Film Festival. It was featured at the BFI London Film Festival, won Dokufest and the American Film Institute awards, was screened at the Message to Man International Film Festival in St. Petersburg, Beat Film Festival and Documentary Film Festival Flahertiana, was recognized as the best short film at the VI International Arctic Film Festival "Golden Raven". The film is the only Oscar nominee representing Russia in 2023.
