Mikhail Samarsky

Biography

Samarsky was born on August 15, 1996 in Rostov-on-Don and has lived in Moscow since 1997. He studied at Moscow's School No. 1084 from 2003 to 2007 and at School No. 1239 from 2007 to 2012. In 2012–2013 he studied at the School of External Studies No. 1, which is affiliated with Moscow State University (named after Lomonosov).

In 2013 he was admitted to the Department of Political Science of Moscow State University (named after M. V. Lomonosov).

Family

Literary activity

Samarsky, at the age of twelve, wrote his first novella, "On a Teetering Board Between the Hills,” which, upon its publication the following year, received coverage by the mass media. In the opinion of critic Yekaterina Bosina, writing in "Ogonyok" magazine, there are no "substantial revelations" for adult readers, but "from the language perspective the book isn't "child's bladder" at all, the absence of which "gives Misha Samarsky an edge over the majority of his peers." Samarsky, thus encouraged, continued his literary activity. He published a novel, "A Rainbow for a Friend,” which became the first in a four-book series. (Moreover, the "Eksmo" publishing house has published the books under the theme, "The Adventures of an Extraordinary Dog.") An article published in the magazine Neva in the summer of 2013 referred to Samarsky as "a young prose writer well known by the greater [Russian] public.

Public activity and charitable work

Samarsky began his engagement in charitable activities in 2010, when he founded an informal program, "Living Hearts,” through which, with the help of friends and acquaintances, he was able to assist blind children. He published audio books, Braille-font books, etc., and purchased equipment for blind and visually impaired children. Russian entrepreneurs, politicians and actors provided assistance in the operation of the program. Businessman Andrei Ryabinsky proposed that it be registered as an official charity fund for the blind under the "Living Hearts" name. Thus, on October 12, 2012 the charity fund "Living Hearts" was founded on the basis of the program. Anna Mikhailovna Samarskaya, Mikhail's mother, is a co-founder and the chairperson of the fund.

On November 9, 2011 during the meeting with Russia's President D. A. Medved'yev and Russian bloggers, Samarsky raised the issue of Internet accessibility for visually impaired people. He stated that the Braille displays for computers are out of reach for the majority of visually impaired people because they're expensive and the displays, which are provided to children for use in their studies, must be returned after graduation. The issue received further development, and President Medved'yev recommended an amendment to the legislation to allow a child to keep the technical equipment after graduation.

Picturizations and plays

On October 13, 2012 the premier of the play "I'm a Dog" took place in the "Samarskaya Ploschad'” theater (under director E. B. Drobyshev) based on the novel "A Rainbow for a Friend". Six months later, Mrs. Natalia Nosova, the theater director, acknowledged the project as successful. The "Samarskaya Ploschad'" theater for the play "I'm a Dog" was thus awarded a special prize "For a Socially Important Project" and the Governor's Award, "Theatrical Muse of Samarsk-2012".

In 2012 a documentary film on the lives of blind people, bearing the title "Living Hearts,” was shot with the participation of Mikhail Samarsky.

Awards

Mikhail Samarsky has been awarded the following awards for the play "A Rainbow for a Friend":