Studio Mao

08/09/2026

World premiere of Trudie Styler new drama UP AGAINST IT will be at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September.

Post-marital acrimony and parental devotion make strange bedfellows in this wicked comedy, starring Oscar nominee Antonio Banderas (TIFF ’19’s Pain and Glory) and Eva Birthistle (TIFF ’05’s Imagine Me & You) as co-parenting divorcees faced with an indecent proposal.

From Maven Screen Media.

TIFF Antonio Banderas Eva Birthistle Forest Whitaker

07/17/2026

Strike-a-pose

#балет

Bespoke lunettes

07/16/2026

From the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to the world at large, culture is bridging countries in the bilateral diplomatic channel sharing art, dance, ballet, and sports when traditional channels are stressed or unavailable. Humanity is depending on the people who care to act and deliver.

Ekaterina Krysanova Vladislav Lantratov Игорь Цвирко | Igor Tsvirko Большой театр / The Bolshoi theatre Russian Embassy in USA 🇷🇺🇺🇸 МИД России / Russia's MFA The White House President Donald J. Trump #балет

07/16/2026

It was a magnificent evening at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow for the premiere of Anna Karenina. Prima ballerina Ekaterina Krysanova graced the stage to the brilliant conducting of Maestro Valery Gergiev.

Bespoke lunettes

#балет #большойтеатр

07/10/2026

07/08/2026

Today, the International Olympic Committee has lifted its suspension on Russia, paving the way for Russian teams to return to the Olympic movement ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The Guardian

Studio Mao President and Founder Stephen Mao has long maintained that, “No artist or athlete should be discriminated against based on their nationality.” Today marks a positive step forward for athletes and artists around the world.

Russian Embassy in USA 🇷🇺🇺🇸 МИД России / Russia's MFA The White House President Donald J. Trump

07/08/2026

A historic moment captured on film during the bilateral “Atlanta Summit” when a telephone call between two dignitaries marked a significant step forwards in the cultural channel.

“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”

- Theodore Roosevelt

07/08/2026

A memorable evening of music, culture, and international friendship at the Millennium Gate in Atlanta.

At the invitation of Rodney Mims Cook Jr., Chairman of President Trump’s Commission of Fine Arts, internationally acclaimed violinist Mikhail Simonyan delivered a powerful concert celebrating the role of classical music as a bridge between nations.

The event was organized by Studio Mao President Stephen Mao and Alba Music Director Natalia Domoratskaya and welcomed Atlanta’s distinguished arts community together with an exceptional group of special guests, including Nina Abramian, Russian cultural attaché from the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., NHL and KHL hockey legend Alexei Semenov, and members of the Little Richard Band.

Mikhail’s program featured masterworks by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Johannes Brahms, accompanied by pianist Nyle Matsuoka. As a tribute to American and Russian friendship, the evening concluded with a moving rendition of Yankee Doodle / Souvenir d’Amérique, receiving a standing ovation from the audience.

The concert followed Mr. Cook’s historic visit to Russia and continued the growing cultural dialogue between the United States and Russia, demonstrating how the performing arts can open channels of understanding where traditional diplomacy alone cannot. The evening reaffirmed Studio Mao’s commitment to advancing cultural diplomacy through music, film, and the arts as a lasting foundation for mutual respect and peace.

Alexei Semenov Russian Embassy in USA 🇷🇺🇺🇸 МИД России / Russia's MFA The White House President Donald J. Trump

07/06/2026

Following the historic meeting in St. Petersburg between Rodney Mims Cook Jr. and Olga Lyubimova, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Studio Mao President Stephen Mao met with Mr. Cook at his residence in Atlanta, Georgia, together with Russian Embassy Cultural Attaché Nina Abramian, in support of continued bilateral engagement through the cultural corridor.

This evening, internationally acclaimed violin virtuoso Mikhail Simonyan will perform alongside pianist Nyle Matsuoka as a gesture of cultural goodwill, celebrating the enduring power of music to foster dialogue and mutual understanding between the United States and Russia.

07/05/2026

Honored to welcome Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Cultural Attaché and First Secretary Nina Abramian to Atlanta, Georgia, for a two day visit at the invitation of Rodney Mims Cook Jr. and the National Monuments Foundation. Her visit celebrates the enduring role of arts and culture in fostering bilateral cultural exchange and strengthening connections between people through shared heritage and dialogue.

A highlight of the visit will be a special performance by Mikhail Simonyan, whose program will feature works by Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, and Brahms. Through his artistry, the concert will demonstrate the universal language of classical music and underscore the enduring power of culture to bring people together through a shared appreciation of artistic excellence.

Russian Embassy in USA 🇷🇺🇺🇸 МИД России / Russia's MFA The White House President Donald J. Trump