The Cicadas project is set to debut at the New Season festival in Sochi on September 10, with Kinopoisk confirming the screening to socialbites.ca via its online cinema division. A second screening is planned on Kinopoisk in November, broadening the show’s reach for audiences across platforms. The series is directed by Evgeny Stychkin, a filmmaker whose credits include Cicadas, Patient Zero, and Communication. Ekaterina Tirdatova, who has credits on Castle, Sklifosovsky, and Sunday, writes the screenplay for this production. The cast is led by Grigory Vernik, with Sofia Arzhanykh, Ilya Vinogorsky, Katya Voronina, Kirill Bukhantsev, Irina Pautova, Savely Naumov, and Sergei Gorodnichiy in main roles. Additional performances feature Olga Sutulova, Ekaterina Varnava, Sergey Umanov, Ksenia Ryabinkina, Elizaveta Boyarskaya, Evgeny Sannikov, Evgeny Stychkin, Victoria Tolstoganova, and Artem Bystrov.
The premise follows a group of high school graduates who survive a catastrophic party incident. As investigators and the graduates, along with their families, relive the night through a detailed re-enactment, new layers of complexity surface, uncovering secrets that escalate as the formal questioning unfolds. In describing his role, Vernik notes that his character Anton comes from a privileged background where needs are met with ease. The line between staged play and real life blurs, driving the story forward as the character’s vulnerabilities are explored. Arzhanykh spoke about the chance to work opposite Vernik, citing a history of productive collaboration that helped create a relaxed and cohesive on-set dynamic. She expressed confidence that the production would proceed smoothly.
Meanwhile, industry chatter tied to related media hints at ongoing expansions in the broader franchise ecosystem. Producers linked to a One Piece anime adaptation have teased future chapters, signaling continued growth and cross-franchise development. The overall project thus sits at the intersection of intense drama, character study, and evolving multimedia storytelling. This positioning is likely to resonate with audiences in Canada and the United States who follow contemporary European cinema and serialized television alike, offering an entry point into a narrative that blends family dynamics with investigative unraveling. The emphasis on character psychology and moral ambiguity aims to attract viewers who enjoy immersive, dialogue-driven storytelling and complex plot turns. (Kinopoisk report)