The first Far From Moscow Festival was held in University of California, Los Angeles, USA in December 2016. There were three days of film, music, cuisine and graphic arts.

With live performances and dancing on UCLA’s green lawns, the festival offered a tantalizing taste of Russia’s finest talents in pop, rock, and electronica including Mumiy Troll and Bravo, DZA and Mujuice - the country's two most promising/fashionable electronic solo artists.

Foundation A appeared not only as the festival’s sponsor but also introduced to the world-famous Schoenberg Hall Russian classical musicians: pianist Philipp Kopachevsky, soloist of the Moscow State Academic Philharmonic; Violinist Andrey Baranov, winner of the Queen Elizabeth Competition; Cellist Boris Andrianov; Cellist Evgeny Tonkha (First Prize and Golden Medal - Twelfth International Cello Competition, Czech Republic. Special Jury Prize - Thirteenth International Tchaikovsky Competition).

"The Far From Moscow Festival exemplifies the charm and importance of true cultural exchange in the humanistic spirit. That UCLA can be host to the Festival is a boon to campus and to the LA community at large". Dean David Schaberg, UCLA.

Thank you letter of David MacFadyen, Professor, University of California, Los Angeles