Director Konstantin Fam became a laureate of the Fiddler on the Roof award by the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS. He was named ‘Man of the Year’ in Cinematography category for his film Shoes, which tells about the Holocaust through a story of one pair of shoes, whose owner died at the Auschwitz concentration camp. 

 

 

- said Konstantin Fam after receiving the award. 

 

The ‘Man of the Year’ award was established by the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS (FJCIS) in 2002. It recognizes people who have made significant contribution to the development of the cultural and social life of the country, regardless of their nationality and religion. Award categories include such categories as 'Human rights activism', 'Legend', 'Regional leader', 'Philanthropist', 'Culture and Charity', 'Education', 'Social activity', 'Journalism', 'Television', 'Cinematography'. The number of categories varies through the years. 

 

All winners receive a Fiddler on the Roof statuette created by Israeli sculptor Frank Meisler. Borukh Gorin, Head of Public Relations at FJCIS, explains its meaning: ‘This statuette portrays a fiddler on the roof. What it symbolizes is that, a person should always hold his head high and carry his own tune no matter what the circumstances are’.