“Lights, camera, action” might as well be the motto of Mosfilmovskaya Street. This street is more than just a stretch of asphalt. It is a journey through Russian cinematic history.
Welcome to Mosfilmovskaya Street in Moscow. It is home to Mosfilm Studios and several foreign embassies. The street officially got its name in 1939. Before that, it was known as Potylikha Street.
Mosfilmovskaya Street stretches for about 3 kilometers. It runs southwest through a residential area. This area lies between the Moskva River and its tributary, the Setun River. You might notice that we are relatively close to Sparrow Hills. They were known as Lenin Hills during the Soviet era.
Once upon a time, around the 17th century, this area was part of the Troitskoye-Golenishchevo estate. It was owned by the Kutuzov family. Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov a famous field marshal, led Russian forces against Napoleon in the War of 1812. A landmark from that era still stands. It is the Trinity Church, built between 1644 and 1645.
But the real claim to fame for Mosfilmovskaya Street is Mosfilm Studios. Founded in 1924, Mosfilm is one of Russia’s largest and oldest film studios. Many acclaimed Soviet-era films were produced here. Andrei Tarkovsky and Sergei Eisenstein created masterpieces here. Mosfilm also produced Red Westerns and the Akira Kurosawa co-production Dersu Uzala.
During World War II, Mosfilm personnel were evacuated to Alma-Ata. They merged with other studios to form the Central United Film Studio. After the war, they returned to Moscow in 1943.
The iconic Mosfilm intro features the monument “Worker and Kolkhoz Woman” and the Spasskaya Tower. It first appeared in the 1947 musical comedy Springtime.
After the Soviet Union dissolved, Mosfilm continued to thrive. It produced over 3000 films, winning awards at international festivals. Today, it operates as a quasi-private company. Karen Shakhnazarov leads the studio.
Mosfilm even has its own vehicle depot. It houses 170 tanks and 50 vintage cars. In 2023, Mosfilm gave 28 T-55 tanks to the Russian Armed Forces. They also donated other military vehicles.
Today, Mosfilmovskaya Street is not just about film. Several embassies are located here. You will find the embassies of Germany, Sweden, and North Korea. The embassies of Kuwait, Serbia and many others also call this street home.
So, as you stroll down Mosfilmovskaya Street remember its rich history. It is a place where cinematic dreams were and are still made. It is also a place where international relations meet. It is a street that connects Russia’s past with its present.