Chukhray's next film was "Clear Skies" (1961). It told the story of a Soviet pilot who had survived Nazi imprisonment during the war, but was accused of spying. It was one of the first Soviet films to deal with some of the repressive practices under the Soviet leadership of Joseph Stalin. It won the Grand Prix (in a tie with Kaneto Shindo's "The Naked Island") at the 2nd Moscow International Film Festival. Two years later Chukhray served as the President of the Jury at the 3rd Moscow International Film Festival.