What makes documentary cinema special? Together with an experienced screenwriter, you will explore how the combination of reality and personal presentation creates genuine emotions. Documentary cinema is a unique form of art in which reality gains structure, emotions, and voice. Unlike fictional cinema, where imagination dominates, documentary filmmaking works with real events, people, and facts. But this does not make it boring or dry. On the contrary, it is precisely because of the combination of authenticity and the author's perspective that documentaries can sometimes resonate deeper and more sharply than fictional films. In the lecture by screenwriter Maya Orazova, participants will learn how directors shape narratives from real events, how they select visual styles, build dramaturgy, and work with audience emotions. You will discuss what techniques modern documentarians use to make their stories engaging and meaningful. Where is the line between observation and interpretation? Why does the director remain a co-author even of the most "objective" films? Where to go in Saint Petersburg today, look for on our website.