Oleg Valenchuk: Greenland - a cultural bridge uniting the talents of Russia

      The festival chairman, State Duma deputy Oleg Valenchuk, noted that the remote format of the competition allows talented people from different corners of the country to express themselves and share their creativity with a wide audience. This year, the competition "Faithful Sons of the Motherland" was held with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. It brought together 3,375 participants from 73 regions of Russia, as well as from neighboring and distant countries. Over seven months of creative competition, 222 participants became diploma winners, and 15 of them were selected as laureates. The competition united people who share common values – patriotism, respect for the history, culture, and traditions of Russia. One of the bright laureates of the competition was a schoolgirl from Mordovia, Olga Babakaeva. Her song "My Mordovia" reflects love for her homeland and family. The video footage, shot against the backdrop of the picturesque landscapes of the republic, demonstrates not only professionalism but also a deep attachment to her native land. The year 2026 has been declared the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia by a decree of President Vladimir Putin. The "Greenlandia" festival and the "Faithful Sons of the Motherland" competition have become important platforms for expressing these ideas, drawing attention to the diversity of cultural heritage and patriotic values. – I grow up in a creative family. The roots of this love for art come from my grandparents. In their house, it was always customary to sing, including in the native Mordovian language. Any holiday turned into a big feast, where songs did not cease until the morning. A few years ago, I wrote the lyrics to the song "My Mordovia." When the Russian version was ready, I really wanted to add a national flavor to it – that’s how the verses in two languages appeared. And filming the music video became a gift from my mother for graduating from music school. The "Greenlandia" festival and its remote competition "Faithful Sons of the Motherland" have become symbols of unity and cultural diversity in Russia. – Greenlandia is a kind of cultural bridge of Russia, uniting talents from all over the country, – says Oleg Valenchuk. – It is our sacred duty to know our history, to learn lessons from it, to preserve the connection of times, and to pass the baton of memory to the younger generation. And one of the simplest ways to reach hearts is through poetry and songs. The full list of laureates and their works can be found on the festival's website and in the official group on Vkontakte.