Russian film-makers making debut documentary in Guyana

The group of Russian Film-Makers pose with a local partner.

A group of Russian film-makers arrived in Guyana two weeks ago to film their debut documentary on “gold-mining and lifestyles” in the nation with the intention to promoting the country’s tourism sector and forging a stronger relationship with Guyana.

The documentary will be the sixth in its series, and is titled “The Price of the Dream”. This series focuses on the dreams of individuals around the world and the price they paid to achieve it, or lose it.

Through the Russian television channel, “My Planet”, the documentary is expected to have at least 100 million viewers worldwide, with the majority from Russia, the United States of America and Europe.

“My Planet” belongs to the All-Russia State Television and Radio Company (Russia’s main state television group) and is Russia’s first TV channel dedicated to travel, science and history.

The crew includes Director, Vladimir Roshin, the star, Maxim Stephanov, the Producer, Gleb Voronov and camera-man Alexander Chub.

The documentary will be based on Stephanov’s dream of being a gold miner in Guyana, and how it came to an abrupt failure.

The film will serve as a guideline for others who wish to pursue mining in the country, with the investment and other procedures for gold-mining being outlined.

According to Stephanov, he ventured to the country five years ago to pursue gold-mining, after he heard of the “gold rush” and the “city of El Dorado.”

He said that he was able to acquire land in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni region, where he commenced a mining operation with two excavators.

Stephanov said that he invested at least US$600, 000, only to see his dream end in failure.

He said that the plot of land where he conducted his operations had very little gold, and he could not continue mining after he was running at a loss. After one of his excavators also sunk in the Cuyuni River and was damaged, Stephanov was forced to abandon his effort.

Members of the crew interviewing porkknockers in Puruni.

However, all was not lost for the dreamer, when he met film director, Vladimir Roshin, back in Russia earlier this year.

Roshin said that he was amazed with Stephanov’s story, and decided that it could qualify for his documentary series, “The Price of the Dream”.

Consequently, Roshin’s employers at “My Planet” accepted his request to do the documentary, providing an all-expenses paid trip to Guyana for Stephanov and the film-makers.

The crew has already filmed gold-mining operations in Puruni, Kaieteur, Bartica and other parts of the country.

Apart from the documentary’s traditional focus on “the dreamer” and his life, Roshin said that its sixth series in Guyana will also showcase life in Georgetown, highlighting local “landmarks, cuisine and beer.”

He said that the team has received support and advice from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Housing and Water and the Russian Embassy.

According to Stephanov, this documentary will be an achievement for him, as it will enlighten other potential miners on the correct procedures one should take, before commencing a gold-mining operation in Guyana.