Expanded Film Program Preview: March Releases Across Russian and International Cinema

“Healthy Man,” director Petr Todorovsky – from March 2

The film is described by Pyotr Todorovsky as a drama about moral questions. It follows Yegor, a sports reporter who, in his quest for a new life, leaves behind his old routines. He volunteers at an oncology center and collaborates with LizaAlert in a search for missing persons, while at the same time he withdraws from his family and colleagues.

The film moves away from debates on Christian ethics and centers on a growing personal question from Yegor: is what he is doing worth it? The cast features Nikita Efremov, Irina Starshenbaum, and Evgeny Tkachuk in the lead roles. (Source: festival program)

Ballet Princess (Neneh Superstar), director Remzi Ben Slimane – from March 2

Nine, a young dancer, dreams of dedicating her life to ballet. She earns a place at a prestigious Paris OperaSchool, yet her exams merely mark the first of a string of trials that test her resilience while trying to balance hope and fear.

Ballet Princess offers a springtime release with a heartening tale of overcoming prejudice and inner fears. The central role is portrayed by the adopted daughter of prominent actors Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi and Louis Garrel, who faced off against Garrel’s own new release in March, a topic discussed later. (Source: festival program)

“Wanderer,” director Anton Maslov – from March 8

Anna abruptly decides to change her life. She sets out to find her mother, whom she has not seen in 13 years. With a dachshund, a small backpack, and a bike, she embarks on a journey toward Magadan, away from the bustle of the city. Along the way she meets new people and encounters unexpected adventures, ultimately earning a reward for fearlessness and perseverance.

Going reflects a growing road-movie trend in contemporary cinema, with landscapes spanning eight regions from Moscow to Magadan. The story, told by Anya Smolina, is inspired by the true journey of traveling across the country with a dachshund, drawing from a book as its basis. (Source: festival program)

“With and without rules” (L’innocent), dir. Louis Garrel – from March 9

A fresh directorial effort from Louis Garrel, released almost concurrently with his daughter’s debut. If Ballet Princess explores childhood dreams, this film delves into adult mischief.

Abel, the film’s protagonist, learns that his 60-year-old mother, a teacher in a colonized institution, plans to marry one of her students. He resists becoming the stepson of a criminal, yet a chance encounter with an unlikely stepfather unsettles his ordinary life—so much so that the genre’s conventions begin bending under the weight of real-world legal stakes. (Source: festival program)

My Sun (After Sun), dir. Charlotte Wells – March 16

After her parents’ divorce, Sophie recalls a vacation to Turkey in the 1990s with her father Calum, a trip that earned an Oscar nomination for the performer who rose to prominence in this role. Calum cherishes his daughter and strives to create unforgettable memories, yet a hidden truth casts a shadow over their time together. As Sophie grows older, she pieces together memories from a family archive and personal recollections that can be unreliable over time.

My Sun marks Charlotte Wells’s directorial debut. Although rooted in a father–daughter relationship, the film expands into a broader meditation on love and the fragility of memory, offering a poignant look at how people shape and are shaped by their past. (Source: festival program)

Lost Girls Island, directors Anne-Marie Schmidt, Brian Schmidt – March 16

Three girls find themselves stranded in a sea cave, surrounded by crashing waves, sea lions, and towering seals, as they cling to one another.

Lost Girls Island stands out as a family project from a creative partnership that includes their own daughter in the frame. The narrative, though crafted by adults, is filtered through a child’s perspective, highlighting how danger and wonder can look very different when seen through innocent eyes. (Source: festival program)

“John Wick 4” (John Wick: Episode 4), director Chad Stahelski – March 23

Keanu Reeves returns as John Wick in a relentless continuation of a high-octane franchise about a clandestine group of mercenaries and their code. Wick faces a formidable new foe and powerful allies who intimidate even the most seasoned killers as he fights toward a hard-won freedom.

The fourth installment maintains the series’ momentum and tees up a future spin-off, Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas. Reeves remains compelling, the set pieces satisfy, and the world shows no signs of ending. (Source: festival program)

Noon Stars (Stars at Noon), dir. Claire Denis – from March 23

The Cannes prizewinner Claire Denis unveils a tense drama set amid Nicaragua’s revolutionary period. An American journalist and a British businessman cross paths by chance, and a volatile attraction blossoms into distrust as the truth behind identities comes into question. The film blends espionage with intimate, turbulent dynamics, driven by questions of trust and motive. It is adapted from a novel by Denis Johnson. (Source: festival program)

Ayta, director Stepan Barnashev – from March 30

In a tense investigation, a police officer named Athanasius is suspected in the death of a girl named Aita. As the crowd clamors for justice, the inspector pursues truth with restraint, knowing the danger of rushing judgments. Time is critical as authorities seek the real culprit before a volatile village reacts in anger.

Aita, directed by Stepan Barnashev, earned two awards at the Zimny film festival for directing and best male acting in 2022. Russian auteurs from Yakutia have increasingly shaped contemporary cinema, with notable recent homegrown releases gaining attention in national distribution. (Source: festival program)

Breathe, director Roman Karimov – from March 30

A successful businessman and former doctor, Victor, secretly enters a hospital during the coronavirus crisis to help a sick mother. He pushes his own safety and freedom aside, dedicating himself to aiding doctors in finding solutions to save as many patients as possible.

Roman Karimov’s film anticipates the pandemic era with a raw, human focus. The cast includes Anton Batyrev and Irina Gorbacheva as central figures navigating crisis, sacrifice, and hope. (Source: festival program)