Sergei Loznitsa’s documentary ‘Imperium,’ assembled from archival footage of 1970s Soviet life, wins Best Film at the BFI London Film Festival

Sergei Loznitsa's documentary "Imperium," composed entirely of 1970s Soviet archival footage, emerged victorious at the British Film Institute's prestigious 70th London Film Festival. The film, which was discovered by Loznitsa in the Audiovisual Archive of the Workers' and Democratic Movement in Rome, opened with a parade on Red Square before journeying throughout the country to showcase everyday life and jubilations.

The jury praised "Imperium" for presenting a unique perspective on life in the Soviet Union before its disintegration. According to the jury, "The film offers a broad view of life in a country with an extraordinarily diverse social and cultural landscape, many aspects of which have rarely appeared on-screen."