Ilya Kopalin

Directing

Ilya Kopalin

Born 1900-08-02 · Pavlovskaya, Zvenigorod

Ilya Petrovich Kopalin (1900–1976) was a Soviet film director renowned for his impactful documentaries. He is best remembered for capturing some of the most historic moments of the 20th century, including the Yalta Conference, where he filmed Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt, as well as the momentous flight of Yuri Gagarin, the first human to journey into space. Kopalin's work as a filmmaker focused on documenting significant events in Soviet history, earning him recognition as a key figure in Soviet documentary filmmaking.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

City of Great Destiny poster
NR

The 1961 Nominee of the Palme d'Or as the Best Short Film.

City of Great Destiny

1961

First Flight to the Stars poster
NR

The history of the Soviet space program and the flight of the world's first manned spacecraft "Vostok" piloted by Yuri Gagarin.

First Flight to the Stars

1961

For Peace and Friendship poster
10.0

A documentary on the Fourth World Festival of Youth and Students that took place in the summer of 1953 in Bucharest.

For Peace and Friendship

1954

For Peace and Friendship poster
10.0

A documentary on the Fourth World Festival of Youth and Students that took place in the summer of 1953 in Bucharest.

For Peace and Friendship

1954

No artwork available
NR

Propaganda film about Soviet Latvia.Events in Latvia in 1940: the release of political prisoners, demonstrations in the streets of Riga, the Latvian delegation in Moscow. Latvian countryside, fishing, Riga harbour, Riga sights, Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR. Nurseries and kindergartens, University of Latvia, outskirts of Riga, 9th Congress of the Communist (Bolshevik) Party of Latvia. Peat mining, industry, workers' club, Russian language courses, schools and pioneer organisation. Cultural life.

Towards the Sun

1941

Day of the Victorious Country poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Day of the Victorious Country

1948

No artwork available
NR

Documentary film about the IV. the youth festival, held in 1953, in Bucharest.

International Concert

1954

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Land Renewal

1950

No artwork available
NR

The film commemorates the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution by depicting major events in Soviet history from 1917 to 1957. It includes archival footage covering the Russian Revolution, Civil War, industrial achievements, and cultural developments. The documentary highlights significant figures and events, such as Lenin's funeral, the construction of the Dnieper Dam, and the first All-Union Congress of Writers.

The Unforgettable Years

1957

Warsaw Meetings poster
NR

Documentary on the 5th World Festival of Youth and Students which was held from 31 July to 15 August 1955 in Warsaw.

Warsaw Meetings

1955

No artwork available
9.0

No synopsis available yet.

A Celebration of Our Youth

1955

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Albania

1953

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Albania

1953

Moscow Strikes Back poster
5.6

A Soviet documentary chronicling the Battle of Moscow (October 1941 – January 1942), when Red Army forces repelled the German advance on the capital. Shot by numerous frontline cameramen, it combines harrowing footage of combat and civilian suffering with scenes of Nazi atrocities, framed against themes of Russian heroism and cultural survival. Originally released under the title Defeat of the German Armies Near Moscow, the English-language version, narrated by Edward G. Robinson, was retitled Moscow Strikes Back. The film won the 1943 Academy Award for Best Documentary. Warning: contains graphic images.

Moscow Strikes Back

1942

Crimean Conference poster
10.0

The Crimean (Yalta) conference of the leaders of the three powers - allies in the Anti-Hitler coalition was held from February 4 to February 11, 1945 in the Livadia Palace near Yalta.

Crimean Conference

1945

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

The Liberated Czechoslovakia

1946

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

The Liberated Czechoslovakia

1946

Velikoye proshchaniye poster
5.5

March 9th, 1953. A gray, sad day. Clouds float low over the Kremlin towers. A city that unrecognizably grew, prettier and matured - this Moscow froze in solemn grief. The country escorts its father and leader, Joseph Stalin.

Velikoye proshchaniye

1953

The Court Is in Session poster
NR

The world’s first trial against German war criminals took place in Kharkov in December 1943. The film covers the trial of three Germans and one Russian: Corporal of German Secret Field Police Reinhard Retzlaw; Captain of the German Military Counter-Espionage Service Wilhelm Langheld; SS Obersturmbannführer, Company Commander of the SD Sonderkommando Hans Ritz; and collaborator, assistant to SD Sonderkommando, driver of the “gas van” Mikhail Bulanov. In the presence of 40,000 Kharkov citizens, the criminals were hanged on the Blagoveshchensk market, where the invaders themselves had previously carried out mass executions.

The Court Is in Session

1943

No artwork available
NR

A film about the lives of people in a small country on the shores of the Adriatic Sea.

New Albania

1949

Moscow poster
6.7

Documentary almanac directed by the great cinematographer Mikhail Kaufman about the life of the Soviet capital.

Moscow

1927

No artwork available
NR

Directed by Ilya Kopalin.

One of Many

1931

Berlin Conference poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Berlin Conference

1945

In the Bryansk Polesie poster
NR

An exciting journey through the picturesque expanses of the Bryansk region, exploring the unique culture and traditions of the area.

In the Bryansk Polesie

1930